Two teams towards the bottom of the La Liga table will lock horns on Friday evening, with Alaves welcoming Granada to Mendizorrotza Stadium.
Alaves, who are 15th in Spain's top flight, lost 2-1 to reigning champions Barcelona before the international break, while 19th-placed Granada drew 1-1 with Getafe in their last match.
Match preview
© Reuters
Alaves will have been pleased with their performance against Barcelona last time out, taking a shock lead inside the first minute through Samu Omorodion, before the home side managed to turn it around late in the contest courtesy of a double from Robert Lewandowski.
The Blue and Whites had won two games in a row ahead of the clash with the champions, thumping Deportivo Murcia 10-0 in the Copa del Rey before recording a 1-0 victory over Almeria in their first league game of November.
Luis Garcia's side have won three, drawn three and lost seven of their 13 league games this season to collect 12 points, which has left them in 15th spot in the table heading into the next set of fixtures.
Goals have been a real problem for Alaves this term, only managing 11 in their 13 matches, which is the joint-second worst record in the division behind Cadiz (10).
El Glorioso, who were promoted back to La Liga via last season's Segunda Division playoffs, have won three times on home soil in the league this term, and their form in front of their own fans is likely to be crucial when it comes to their chances of avoiding relegation.
© Reuters
Granada, meanwhile, drew 1-1 with Getafe before the international break; Borja Mayoral sent the capital side ahead in the second minute, before Gonzalo Villar levelled the scores late in the first period.
The Andalusian outfit have found it difficult during the 2023-24 campaign, only recording one win from their 13 matches, and a total of seven points has left them down in 19th position in the table.
Granada also earned promotion back to this level through last season's Segunda Division, finishing top of the pile, with the team spending just one campaign out of the top flight.
Paco Lopez's side have only picked up one point on their travels in the league this season, and they have struggled defensively, conceding 30 times in their 13 matches, which is the second-worst defensive record in the division behind Almeria (35).
Granada took four points off Alaves in the Segunda Division last season, while they won both matches between the two teams when they last locked horns during the 2021-22 La Liga campaign.
Team News
© Reuters
Alaves will be missing at least three players through injury, with Abdel Abqar, Aleksandar Sedlar and Giuliano Simeone unavailable for selection.
Meanwhile, Carlos Benavidez remains a major doubt for the contest due to a muscular problem which will require him to undergo a late fitness test.
Head coach Garcia could select close to the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against Barcelona last time out, with Jon Guridi and Luis Rioja supporting Omorodion, who has now netted three times in Spain's top flight during the 2023-24 campaign.
As for Granada, there will have to be at least two changes to the side that started against Getafe, as Raul Torrente will miss out with a muscular issue, while Bryan Zaragoza is suspended due to the milestone booking that he picked up last time out.
Antonio Puertas is likely to be the player to benefit from Zaragoza's absence, while Victor Diaz could potentially be introduced in a defensive area.
Jose Callejon is pushing to come into the XI, but Lucas Boye and Myrto Uzuni should continue as the front two, with the pair netting seven times between them in the league this season.
Alaves possible starting lineup:
Sivera; Gorosabel, Maras, Marin, Duarte, J Lopez; Guridi, Blanco, Guevara, Rioja; Omorodion
Granada possible starting lineup:
Ferreira; Manafa, Miquel, Diaz, Neva; Villar, Gumbau; Melendo, Puertas; Uzuni, Boye
We say: Alaves 1-1 Granada
These two teams played out a 1-1 draw when they locked horns at the home of Alaves in the Segunda Division last season, and we are expecting the same scoreline to occur on Friday evening, as both managers will be wary of suffering what would be a damaging loss at this stage of the campaign.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
