Valencia vs Alaves

Valencia is set to host relegation-threatened Alaves at Mestalla for a crucial La Liga encounter on Sunday, as they look to secure a much-needed victory. Both teams are entrenched in the relegation battle, with Valencia currently occupying the bottom spot in the standings with just 12 points, trailing their Basque counterparts by five points. Alaves, sitting just above the drop zone in 17th place, will be aiming to extend their distance from the relegation zone with a positive result.

Valencia's season has been nothing short of disappointing, and as they face a difficult challenge against Alaves, the possibility of relegation looms large. The hosts, under the management of Ruben Baraja, have struggled to make an impact in La Liga, leaving them in a perilous position. Although the season is only 16 games old, Valencia’s prospects of avoiding relegation are becoming increasingly grim, with their form offering little hope.

Having claimed just one point from their last four league matches, Valencia finds themselves in dire straits. Their most recent victory came against Real Betis on November 23, when they triumphed 4-2, marking their second win of the season. However, this victory has proven to be a false dawn, as they followed it up with three consecutive defeats, further plunging them into the relegation zone. Their latest loss came in a narrow 1-0 defeat to Real Valladolid, another club in the lower half of the table, leaving Valencia with little room for error.

Adding to the team's woes, Valencia struggled in their most recent fixture, a 1-1 draw against fellow relegation contenders Espanyol. Despite a second-half equalizer from Diego Lopez, Valencia's continued inability to secure three points on the road highlights the team’s ongoing struggles. With 12 winless away matches in a row, the situation is becoming increasingly critical, and the team’s morale is at a low point. Baraja will know that Sunday’s match against Alaves could be a make-or-break moment in his tenure as manager. Reports linking former Valencia boss Quique Sanchez Flores with a return to the club only serve to increase the pressure on Baraja to secure a positive result.

However, Valencia's record against Alaves has not been favorable in recent encounters. They have lost their last three league meetings against the Basque side, having last secured a comfortable 3-0 home victory against them in August 2021. This history of failure in their recent clashes against Alaves will only add to the weight of expectation surrounding Sunday’s match.

Alaves, on the other hand, have undergone a managerial change recently, and they will be hoping that their new coach, Eduardo Coudet, can inspire a turnaround in their fortunes. After a disappointing start to the season, the club parted ways with Luis Garcia Plaza, who had overseen the team’s promotion and subsequent 10th-place finish in La Liga. Garcia Plaza’s dismissal came as a difficult decision for the club, with many fans lamenting the end of a successful era. However, Alaves quickly appointed Coudet, who returned to Spain after a spell managing in South America. His appointment has been met with cautious optimism, but the results under his leadership have been mixed thus far.

Coudet’s first match in charge of Alaves saw a disappointing exit from the Copa del Rey, with his side falling short in a penalty shootout against fourth-tier Deportivo Minera. Despite this early setback, Coudet has managed to avoid defeat in his first two league matches, with Alaves earning a 2-2 draw against Osasuna and a 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao. The latter result was particularly notable, as Sevilla loanee Joan Jordan scored his first goal for the club, capitalizing on a mistake by Athletic goalkeeper Unai Simon to ensure a point for his side. These results, while not wins, have given Alaves some hope as they head into their final match of 2024.

Alaves, now just one point clear of the relegation zone, will be looking to extend their unbeaten run under Coudet and secure a vital win against Valencia. The club has struggled on the road this season, with a seven-game winless run away from home in La Liga, but they will see this match as an opportunity to break that streak. Facing a Valencia side that has been mired in a poor run of form, Alaves will be hopeful that they can take advantage of the hosts’ fragile confidence and come away with a crucial victory.

For both teams, this match represents more than just another fixture in the calendar—it is a pivotal clash in the battle to avoid relegation. Valencia’s need for points is desperate, and with their manager’s future potentially hanging in the balance, the pressure on Baraja to deliver a result is immense. On the other hand, Alaves will see this as an opportunity to pull further away from the relegation zone and potentially finish the year on a positive note, despite their own struggles this season.

The stakes couldn’t be higher, and as the two sides prepare for Sunday’s showdown, it is clear that the outcome will have significant implications for both clubs’ survival hopes. With Valencia in crisis and Alaves eager to build on their recent improvements, the match promises to be a tense, hard-fought affair. Both teams will know that the points on offer are crucial, and the battle at Mestalla will be one that neither can afford to lose.

In summary, the clash between Valencia and Alaves on Sunday is set to be a crucial encounter in the ongoing fight to avoid relegation. Valencia’s dire form, particularly their struggles at home, has left them in a precarious position, while Alaves, under the stewardship of Eduardo Coudet, will be looking to take advantage of their opponents’ fragility. With both teams desperate for points, the match at Mestalla will undoubtedly be one of the most significant of the season, with the result likely to have far-reaching consequences for both clubs’ survival in La Liga.