Alaves host Atletico Madrid at Estadio Mendizorrotza on October 10 in a Regular Season - 8 fixture that pits a surprising sixth-placed side against a familiar top-tier presence sitting second in the table. With the season still taking shape at this early stage, the gap between the two sides in the standings offers an interesting subplot rather than a definitive measure of quality.

Form heading into this match tells contrasting stories. Alaves have struggled to find consistency, winning their opening two league matches covered in the data (5-2 over Osasuna on September 6 and 1-0 over Villarreal on August 28) before stumbling to defeats against Racing Santander and Valencia, followed by a draw at Athletic Club on September 19. Atletico Madrid, by contrast, arrive having won three of their last four league outings, including a 2-1 victory over Real Madrid on September 20 and a 4-0 thrashing of Osasuna on September 16, though they did suffer a 3-0 defeat to Athletic Club on September 5 and a Champions League loss to Liverpool on September 9, which is worth noting only as schedule context rather than a reflection of their league campaign.

Quique Sanchez Flores will need his side to rediscover the attacking sharpness shown against Osasuna, while Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid will look to carry their league momentum into a venue where visiting sides often find it difficult to assert control. No injuries are reported for either squad, meaning both managers should be able to select from full-strength options, adding further intrigue to the tactical approach each will take. With Alaves sitting just four places and a handful of points behind their illustrious visitors, this match offers a meaningful early-season test for both sides as they look to establish their identity for the campaign ahead.