Alaves vs Getafe

Getafe will be aiming to extend their unbeaten streak in La Liga to five consecutive matches when they travel to face Alaves on Sunday afternoon. The visitors have shown a notable upturn in form in recent weeks, which has allowed them to climb into 14th place in the La Liga standings. Meanwhile, their upcoming opponents, Alaves, find themselves in a precarious position, sitting in 18th place and trailing 17th-placed Espanyol by two points as they continue their battle to remain in Spain's top division.

Alaves enter this crucial fixture with a season record consisting of five victories, six draws, and 11 defeats from their 22 league games. Their tally of 21 points places them just outside the safety zone, intensifying their need for a positive result. The Basque club had a commendable 2023-24 season, finishing in 10th place, but replicating that success has proven to be a difficult task this time around. Instead of competing comfortably in mid-table, they are now locked in a fight for survival with only 16 matches remaining in the season.

The team's recent performances offer a mixed picture. Their most recent outing saw them suffer a narrow 1-0 defeat against Barcelona, yet there were positives to take from their display against the Catalan giants. Prior to that loss, Alaves had managed to pick up four points from three matches, showing signs that they have the capability to collect crucial results when needed. Their home form has been relatively underwhelming, accumulating just 13 points from 10 matches played at Estadio Mendizorrotza. However, they may take encouragement from the fact that their upcoming opponents, Getafe, have also struggled on the road, securing only eight points from their 10 away fixtures this season.

A source of additional confidence for Alaves could stem from their previous encounters with Getafe. During the 2023-24 campaign, they emerged victorious in this corresponding fixture, winning 1-0. However, their fortunes were reversed in the reverse fixture earlier this season when they suffered a 2-0 defeat in Madrid. That inconsistency against Getafe mirrors their overall difficulties this season, where they have found it hard to string together a series of positive results.

Meanwhile, Getafe arrive at this fixture in significantly better form. Since the turn of the new year, they have remained unbeaten in La Liga, collecting eight points from their four matches against Las Palmas, Barcelona, Real Sociedad, and Sevilla. This resurgence has seen them move up to 14th place in the standings, three points clear of the relegation zone. Although their current standing does not guarantee safety, they have created a slight buffer between themselves and the bottom three while also keeping themselves within reach of mid-table security. In fact, they are only four points behind 11th-placed Real Sociedad, highlighting the competitiveness of the lower half of the table.

A key strength of Getafe this season has been their defensive solidity. Jose Bordalas’s team boasts the second-best defensive record in La Liga, having conceded only 17 goals in their 22 matches. Their organization at the back has made them a tough side to break down, but their attacking struggles have been a major cause for concern. Getafe have scored just 17 goals this season, the second-worst tally in the division. Their inability to find the back of the net with regularity has often left them reliant on narrow victories and low-scoring draws to accumulate points.

Despite their strong defensive record in the league, Getafe suffered a humbling 5-0 defeat at the hands of Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals on Tuesday evening. The heavy loss exposed vulnerabilities that had been largely absent in their league performances. While that result was a significant setback, their primary focus remains on maintaining their form in La Liga and ensuring they stay well clear of the relegation battle.

Last season, Getafe finished in 12th place in La Liga, a respectable position for a side of their stature. Given their defensive discipline, they appear well-equipped to secure a similar mid-table finish this time around. Even with their lack of firepower up front, their ability to limit opponents' scoring chances should provide them with a solid foundation to accumulate enough points to avoid getting dragged into the relegation scrap.

As they prepare for their trip to Alaves, Getafe will look to build on their unbeaten run and continue their push towards securing safety as early as possible. On the other hand, Alaves will see this as a crucial opportunity to pick up vital points at home in their fight to escape the relegation zone. With both teams having clear objectives, this encounter promises to be an intense and closely contested battle.