Alaves, a team that returned to the top tier of La Liga last season after a brief absence, finished a respectable 10th. They have continued their strong performance in the current campaign, gathering 10 points from eight matches and currently positioned 11th in the league standings.
Managed by Luis Garcia, Alaves has achieved three wins, one draw, and four losses in their opening eight games. The team has found the net 11 times, with goals being contributed by multiple players across the squad.
Early signs indicate that Alaves will likely maintain their safety in the league again. Despite their recent form being troubling, with three losses in their last four matches, including defeats to Real Madrid and Getafe, Alaves has shown resilience and potential for improvement.
The Blue and Whites have failed to win their last three league encounters against Barcelona and have yet to overcome the Catalan giants in La Liga since September 2016. This underscores the significant challenge they face in this weekend’s clash.
On the other hand, Alaves are expected to be the fresher side, as Barcelona is occupied with European commitments. Additionally, Osasuna recently achieved notable success against the injury-stricken leaders in their latest match.
Barcelona experienced an unexpected defeat against Osasuna in La Liga last weekend, conceding four goals in a disappointing display. However, they swiftly rebounded in the Champions League on Tuesday, delivering a 5-0 victory over Young Boys.
Despite dealing with injury issues, Barcelona has had an impressive start to the 2024-25 season under the guidance of new head coach Hansi Flick, who has made a significant impact since taking charge.
Barcelona has had an impressive start to the 2024-25 La Liga season, winning their first seven matches, amassing 21 points and leading the table by three points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid. This strong start instills confidence in the team’s performance.
Barcelona also leads La Liga in scoring this season with 25 goals, largely thanks to Robert Lewandowski, who has scored nine times in ten appearances. His performance reaffirms his status as one of the world’s elite forwards.
While Barcelona is unlikely to underestimate Alaves, the team has a strong historical record against them. They have won 24 of their last 36 La Liga meetings and have remained unbeaten away from home against Alaves since December 2001. This record provides reassurance about Barcelona’s chances in the upcoming match.
This upcoming match could prove challenging for Barcelona, requiring the league leaders to exercise patience. Nevertheless, a routine victory is expected to help Barcelona regain their winning momentum in Spain’s top flight.