- Team form: Alavés are unbeaten after 2 games in LaLiga 2026-2027 with 1 win (W1, D1).
- Away form: Villarreal are yet to win away from home in LaLiga 2026-2027 (D1).
- Recent form: Alavés have won 4 of their last 5 games (W4, D1).
Tight tactical battle likely at Estadio Mendizorroza
Match outlook
Deportivo Alaves welcome Villarreal CF to the Estadio Mendizorroza this Friday in a matchup between two compact, structured sides, where the clash of blocking systems could lead to a cagey, low-scoring match.
Tactical structure
Quique Sanchez Flores has been in charge of Alaves and has given this team a very clear, pragmatic structure-first edge. The Babazorros defend in a compact mid-block, with the tempo of the game in their hands and their ability to play quickly to break forward and cause chaos the main factor.
Key players and odds
Mariano Diaz has been their talisman in these games so far, with 2 goals and 2 assists in 2 games, while Alberto Moleiro has added 1 assist in 1 game. The Spanish international's creativity and movement between the lines will be crucial in breaking through Alavés' compact set-up this Friday, so the early odds on Alaves look fair at 2.72.
El Submarino Amarillo can make it difficult
Villarreal are the marginal favourite to win this game at 2.42, but the draw looks a solid play at 3.5 as well.
Inigo Perez has been at the helm of Villarreal since July 2026 and the team remains tactically tidy. They still play a narrow mid-block, with the ball always central to the transition play in a vertical fashion.
Nicolas Pepe is the only scorer in 2026/2027 for Villarreal so far and will be a big threat if they can pinch the ball and run, while Georges Mikautadze has been their sharpest finisher of late with 2 goals in his last 5 appearances and 2 of Villarreal's 4 goals in the same period. Alavés will find it tough to break through the Villarreal block.
Back Alaves for the edge
Our prediction is for Alavés to snag the advantage in this contest as they are in better form than Villarreal (W4, D1, L0) and have started the LaLiga 2026-2027 season faster, with 4 points from 2 games, which puts them 2nd in the table.
Villarreal are 8th with 1 point from 1 game and Alavés are yet to concede a goal at home in this campaign so we're going with a home advantage in the correct score market.
- Both teams to score at 1.65 looks live, and it will certainly be a possibility in this matchup, with both sides capable of making a move in transition.
- Both teams have built their structures around a compact, blocking strategy, so under 2.5 goals at 2.0 fits this matchup well.
