Deportivo Alavés vs Valencia: One Side Protecting a Strong Start, the Other Searching for a New Beginning

There is a striking difference in the circumstances surrounding this sixth-round meeting. Alavés began the season with 10 points from their opening five matches, including three victories, and had won all three of their previous home league games before travelling to Racing Santander last weekend. Valencia, by contrast, arrived in Vitoria with only one point from five matches and a change in the dugout, with Óscar Sánchez taking temporary charge after Carlos Corberán’s dismissal. The standings make the contrast obvious, but the timing makes the fixture even more significant: Alavés have an opportunity to remain among the early high-flyers, while Valencia need a response capable of changing the direction of their campaign.

The confirmed formations offer a particularly interesting tactical split. Alavés have selected a 3-5-2, with Antonio Sivera behind Nahuel Tenaglia, Nicolás Valentini and Ville Koski, while Ángel Pérez and Abde Rebbach provide the width from the wing-back positions. Antonio Blanco, Pablo Ibáñez and Denis Suárez form the central midfield, leaving Toni Martínez and Lucas Boyé as the attacking pair. Valencia have gone with a 4-4-2, using Stole Dimitrievski behind Pablo Maffeo, Pepelu, Justin de Haas and José Gayà, with Guido Rodríguez and Filip Ugrinic centrally and Arnaut Danjuma, Aarón Mayol, Javi Guerra and Hugo Duro completing the starting structure.

That shape puts particular importance on the battle between Alavés’ wing-backs and Valencia’s wide players. Alavés can create five-player attacking lines when possession moves forward, but the same structure can leave space to defend if Valencia escape the first pressure and attack quickly into the channels. Valencia’s midfield has also been reshaped for the interim era, with Guido Rodríguez returning to the starting XI after recovering from injury and Aarón Mayol making his debut under Óscar Sánchez. For the hosts, the presence of Denis Suárez between the deeper midfield line and the two forwards gives them another route to connect possession with Boyé and Toni Martínez.

The pre-match discussion has naturally focused on Valencia’s crisis and what a new coach can change immediately, but the Spanish coverage has also stressed that Alavés are not simply facing a wounded opponent: their home record has been one of the strongest features of the opening weeks. ElDesmarque highlighted the three victories Alavés had collected in Vitoria and the nine goals scored there, while Valencia’s problems have been compounded by a lengthy injury list. The visitors nevertheless recover Guido Rodríguez and Luis Rioja, although both were reported to be short of being ready for a full 90 minutes. That leaves the central question before kickoff: can Valencia make the game about their own structure rather than allowing Alavés to dictate it from the outset?

⚠️ Squad Medical Briefing: The Confirmed Absences

Deportivo Alavés

Valencia

The current matchday reporting confirms Garcés, Rodríguez and Mañas as Alavés absences, with Mañas unavailable after entering concussion protocol. Valencia’s confirmed unavailable group includes Tárrega, Diakhaby, Sadiq, Foulquier and Copete, while Diego López and Sergi Canós remain long-term absentees. Guido Rodríguez and Luis Rioja returned from injury but were not considered ready for the full match.

🟢 The Official Elevens: Shape and Personnel

📰 The Conversation Before the Whistle

• Alavés’ home strength: The hosts had won all three of their previous league matches at Mendizorroza, scoring nine goals across those victories.
• Valencia’s reset: Óscar Sánchez takes interim charge following the dismissal of Carlos Corberán, making this the first match of a new temporary phase for the club.
• A depleted Valencia squad: The visitors arrive without several defenders and forwards, although Guido Rodríguez and Luis Rioja return after injury.
• A new midfield option: Aarón Mayol makes his Valencia starting debut, giving Óscar Sánchez another option in a reshaped midfield.
• The structural duel: Alavés’ 3-5-2 naturally creates width through the wing-backs, while Valencia’s 4-4-2 offers a more conventional four-man defensive line and two central forwards.

🔁 Variation Rule: Follow the Wing-Backs Instead of the Ball

This preview deliberately changes the usual match-reading method by making the wing-back zones the main reference point rather than possession statistics or the injury list. Alavés’ structure gives Abde Rebbach and Ángel Pérez responsibility for stretching the pitch, while Valencia’s wide players must decide when to press them and when to protect the full-back areas. The team that handles those movements better could control where the game is played without necessarily dominating the ball.

🎯 Five Details Worth Watching

• Alavés’ width: Their wing-backs can push Valencia’s wide midfielders deeper and create additional space centrally.
• Pepelu’s defensive responsibility: Starting in a deeper role, he may have to help compensate for Valencia’s defensive absences.
• Guido Rodríguez’s positioning: His return gives Valencia a recognised defensive midfield presence in front of the back line.
• Boyé and Toni Martínez: Alavés have selected two forwards who can occupy the central defenders and attack crosses from the wide areas.
• Valencia’s transition moments: With Danjuma and Javi Guerra supporting Hugo Duro, the visitors have direct attacking options when they recover the ball.