Alaves aim to bounce back against bottom side Valencia at home

Deportivo Alavés face a key fixture at Mendizorrotza this Tuesday against Valencia, who sit bottom of LaLiga EA Sports. After their defeat in Santander, the team aims to reaffirm their strong start to the season against a struggling opponent.

The Basque side arrives at the match following their first defeat of the campaign, a 2-1 loss at Racing Santander last Thursday. That result interrupted a run of three wins and a draw that has Alaves in a notable third place with 10 points from a possible 15. Luis García Plaza's team has scored 11 goals and conceded only five, showing good balance.

Confirmed absences

The club's medical report confirms three absences for the match. Forward Aitor Mañas remains out with a head injury and is expected to return at the end of the month. In defence, Facundo Garcés continues his recovery from a serious cruciate ligament injury with no return date. In midfield, Mikel Rodríguez is also out with the same injury. These absences will force the manager to adjust his starting eleven.

The opponent, bottom of the table

Valencia arrive in Vitoria in a critical situation. They occupy 20th place without a single point after five matchdays. Their last outing was a 1-0 defeat in Seville. The Che team has conceded 10 goals and failed to score in their last four games, presenting a major opportunity for the Alaves defence.

Keys to the clash

Luis García Plaza will have to decide whether to keep the three-centre-back system used in Santander or return to a back four. The strike partnership of Luis Boyé and Abdel Rebbach will be key to pressuring a heavily punished Valencia defence. The midfield, with Antonio Blanco and Pablo Ibáñez, must control the tempo of the game from the start.

The match is a perfect opportunity for Alaves to demonstrate their ambition and consolidate their position among the top sides. A win would keep the team in Champions League places. Fans can check the official lineup and all match details on our squad page. The match kicks off this Tuesday at 20:00 local time at the Estadio Mendizorrotza.