Alaves will host Granada with both teams at the wrong end of the La Liga table. Prior to the international break, Alaves was currently ranked 15th in Spain’s top flight. They suffered a 2-1 loss to defending champions Barcelona. Granada, currently ranked 19th, drew 1-1 with Getafe in their most recent game.
Preview (Alaves vs. Granada)
Alaves will have been happy with how they played against Barcelona last time out. Thanks to two goals from Robert Lewandowski late in the game. The host team was able to overturn the shocking early lead given by Samu Omorodion. Prior to facing the champions, the Blue and Whites had won two straight games. They defeated Deportivo Murcia 10-0 in the Copa del Rey and Almeria 1-0 in their opening league match of November. With 12 points from their 13 league games this season—three wins, three draws, and seven losses—Luis Garcia’s team sits in 15th place in the standings going into the upcoming slate of games.
Alaves has struggled mightily to score goals this season. They managed just 11 in 13 games, tied for the second-worst record in the division behind Cadiz (10). El Glorioso, who advanced to La Liga via the Segunda Division playoffs the previous season. They have won three games in the league at home so far this season. Their performance in front of their home crowd will probably have a significant impact on them staying up. Before the international break, Granada and Getafe drew 1-1. Borja Mayoral gave the capital team the lead in the second minute. Gonzalo Villar tied the score late in the first half.
With just one victory in 13 games played and seven points overall, the Andalusian team has struggled in the 2023–24 campaign, sitting in 19th place in the standings. By winning the Segunda Division the previous season and only missing one season from the top flight, Granada also qualified for promotion back to this level. This season, Paco Lopez’s team has only managed one point while playing in the league. They have also had defensive struggles. They have conceded 30 goals in 13 games. It is the second-worst defensive record in the division behind Almeria (35). When the two teams last faced off in the 2021–2022 La Liga season, Granada defeated Alaves by four points in the Segunda Division. Granada also won both of those meetings.
Team News
Alaves will be without at least three players due to injury. Giuliano Simeone, Alexander Sedlar, and Abdul Abqar are not available for selection. Due to a muscle issue that would necessitate a late fitness test, Carlos Benavidez is still very much doubtful to compete. Head coach Garcia may choose a lineup that is similar to the one that played against Barcelona when play got underway last time out, with Jon Guridi and Luis Rioja behind Omorodion, who has now scored three goals in the top division of Spain for the 2023–24 season.
Granada will need to make at least two changes to the starting lineup that faced Getafe; first, Raul Torrente will be out due to a muscle ailment, and second, Bryan Zaragoza will be suspended because of the milestone booking he received the previous time out. The player who will most likely profit from Zaragoza’s absence is Antonio Puertas, while Victor Diaz might be brought on in a defensive capacity. Although Myrto Uzuni and Lucas Boye have combined for seven league goals this season, they should remain as the front two despite Jose Callejon’s push to start.
Alaves 1 – 1 Granada
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