- Alaves are undefeated at home in LaLiga 2026/2027, winning 1 from 1.
- Villarreal are yet to win an away game in LaLiga 2026/2027, scoring 2 and conceding 2.
- Alaves are unbeaten in their last 5 games, winning 4.
Alaves the early pace setters
Babazorros have been the early leaders in Spain's top flight, sitting 2nd with 4 points from their opening 2 games after 2 positive results against Getafe and Rayo Vallecano.
Quique Sanchez Flores' men have played pragmatic football since he took over as boss in March 2026, first building up a defensive structure, then playing with controlled tempo and punishing teams in the second phase of the game.
Mariano Diaz has been their talisman so far in this season, contributing 2 goals and 2 assists in his 2 LaLiga 2026/2027 games, and will likely be their main outlet in the box on Friday.
Submarines are yet to get going
Villarreal are in mixed form overall, having won 3, drawn 1 and lost 1 of their last 5 competitive games, while they are still seeking their first away win of the season in Spain's top-flight, having drawn 2-2 with Racing Santander.
Inigo Perez has kept El Submarino Amarillo tight since taking over in July 2026, they sit 8th in the table and have picked up 1 point from 1 game. A narrow mid-block and transitions are still the foundations of their game, with Nicolas Pepe, who has Villarreal's only goal so far, and Alberto Moleiro, who has contributed 1 assist, their two most threatening players in the attacking third.
Draw looks like the smart play
Villarreal's possession-based approach and Alavés' structured, direct play should lead to a close encounter, with neither side having much to exploit through the middle of the field.
Under 2.5 goals at 2.0 fits the cagey nature of this clash of blocks very well, and both teams to score at 1.65 looks live, as both sides can strike on the break.
Alavés have the edge in form and Villarreal the edge in possession, so the smart lean for the final result is to edge towards Alavés or the draw, with the home side's unbeaten start to the season in mind.
