This duel can be called a derby which is played between two teams that are in the bottom of the table, but in quite different situations. Alaves is just two positions above the relegation zone, however, they have seven points above that zone and eight more than Deportivo which is in penultimate position. The guests are in a desperately bad form with a series of eight rounds without a win and two draws in that series. It seems that Alaves has only started playing and they celebrated in the previous two games, while they were defeated only by Barcelona in the previous eight rounds. Deportivo has defeated Alaves with 1-0 in their first mutual duel.
Alaves has finally started playing well after spending most part of the season in the relegation zone, and as well as in the last place on the table, but they are now much better and they are far from the relegation zone. When it is known that they lost the first six games and that they had only three points on their field after ten rounds, then this was the best they could get. In the previous five rounds they were defeated only once and that was at Nou Camp, but they also had the lead against Barcelona and they almost won one point.
Before that they defeated Sevilla in front of their supporters, and after Barcelona, they defeated Celta at home and Villarreal as guests with 2-1, just as they lost at Nou Camp. They also have some reinforcements this winter and coach Abelardo has the room for rotations that he constantly makes, while he still cannot count on Burgui.
Probable lineups Alaves: Pacheco – Alexis, Ely, Laguardia, R.Duarte – Torres, Pina, Pedraza, Ibai – Guidetti, Munir
Deportivo is sinking deeper and deeper into a series of matches without a win, and the change in the coaching position has not helped much for now. Two rounds ago, they were defeated in San Sebastian by Real Sociedad with 5-0 and their coach Cristobal was replaced by the Dutchman Seedorf, but his debut was not good and in the last round they were mastered by Betis with La Coruna with 1-0. They have only somehow managed to fix their game in defence but they are still a team that has scored the most goals in La Liga.
Their attack has completely failed for the second match in a row, although the new coach made a series of changes in all team lines. In the defensive part, Schar stayed on the bench and Juanfran returned to the team, while Valverde played in midfield, but he got injured quickly, so Borges replaced him, while Bakkali played from the first minute with the anticipated return of Andone after the suspension. Center-back Sydney is missing, and in the meantime Schar and Koval were injured, so they are questionable for this match, as well as the mentioned Valverde.
Probable lineups Deportivo: Ruben – Juanfran, Boveda, Albentosa, Luisinho – Krohn-Dehli, Borges – Catabria, A.Lopez, H.Perez – Andone
Judging by the fact that the form of Alaves obviously improves, and that Deportivo still struggles very much, it is logical to give the host an advantage in this duel. Home field is only additional reason, why we will predict the victory of Alaves against the very weak Deportivo.
Pick: Alaves wins 1.96 -
96/100 @1XBet