Match Information
Match Overview
Alaves host Malaga at Estadio Mendizorrotza on October 23 in Regular Season - 10 of La Liga, a matchday that begins to show how the season is taking shape. The league table puts the sides far apart: Alaves are seventh, while Malaga are 20th, the bottom position.
The most telling factor is the contrast in recent league form. Alaves have lost four of their last five La Liga matches, drawing the other. Their run runs from a 2-1 defeat at Racing Santander on September 12 to a 2-1 defeat at Celta Vigo on October 18, with a 0-0 draw at Athletic Club on September 19 the only point gained. Despite that sequence, they sit seventh. Malaga's last five are no better in results: two draws and three defeats, with no wins. Their October 18 home match against Real Sociedad ended 2-5, the heaviest defeat in either side's recent form.
The defensive records are the secondary storyline. Malaga conceded five against Real Sociedad and three against Villarreal on September 17, and have scored just five goals across their last five league matches. Alaves have scored five times in the same span but conceded eight, so both sides arrive needing to tighten up. Malaga's only clean sheets are absent from this run, while Alaves kept one at Athletic Club.
Neither club has any reported unavailable players, so Quique Sánchez Flores and Funes should both have full squads to choose from. That makes tactical selection, rather than absences, the main variable for each manager.
Alaves are seeking a first league win in this five-match window, while Malaga, at the foot of the table, are looking for one of their own. With both teams winless across their recent matches, Matchday 10 offers each a chance to break a difficult run.
Predicted Lineups
Alaves
Sivera; N. Tenaglia, Jonny, V. Koski, N. Valentini, A. Rebbach; Pablo Ibáñez, Antonio Blanco, Carles Aleñá; Toni Martínez, L. Boyé
Malaga
Alfonso Herrero; Rafita, Fernando Calero, Ángel Recio, José Salinas; David Larrubia, Izan Merino, Carlos Dotor, Pablo Martínez; Adrián Niño Heredia, Chupe
Team Form Analysis
Alaves
League Position: 7Alaves Form Analysis
Alaves have struggled for results in their last five La Liga matches, taking one point from a possible 15. The sequence began with a 2-1 away defeat at Racing Santander on September 12, followed by a 1-0 home loss to Valencia on September 15. A 0-0 draw at Athletic Club on September 19 was the one bright spot, and the only match in which they avoided conceding.
Since then, they lost 2-1 at home to Atletico Madrid on October 10 and 2-1 away at Celta Vigo on October 18. Three of the four defeats came by a single goal, which suggests Alaves have generally stayed competitive rather than being overwhelmed.
Attacking output has been modest but consistent: five goals in five matches, with one in each of the three most recent defeats other than the Valencia loss. They failed to score against Valencia and Athletic Club. Defensively, they have conceded eight goals, an average of 1.6 per match, with seven of those coming in the four matches where they were beaten.
The opposition has included Atletico Madrid, Athletic Club and Valencia, a demanding stretch. Even so, the lack of wins is notable given their seventh-place position.
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Malaga
League Position: 20Malaga Form Analysis
Malaga arrive without a win in their last five La Liga matches, collecting two points from a possible 15 through draws against Celta Vigo (1-1, September 13) and Espanyol (1-1, October 9). They lost 3-1 to Villarreal at home on September 17, 1-0 away at Getafe on September 20, and 2-5 at home to Real Sociedad on October 18.
The trajectory is concerning given that the most recent result was also the heaviest defeat. Malaga conceded five against Real Sociedad and have let in 11 goals across the five matches, an average of 2.2 per game. They have not kept a clean sheet in this sequence.
In attack, they have scored five goals: one each against Celta Vigo, Espanyol and Villarreal, two against Real Sociedad, and none at Getafe. That is an average of one goal per match, so they have generally been able to find the net, though not often enough to offset defensive lapses.
Home form has not provided a cushion, with two of the three home matches in this stretch ending in defeat and the other in a draw. As the league's 20th-placed side, Malaga have been competitive in moments but unable to turn them into points.
Head-to-Head
Alaves
Malaga
Recent Meetings
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-05-20 | Alaves | 2 - 1 | Malaga |
| 2022-12-18 | Malaga | 1 - 0 | Alaves |
| 2018-05-06 | Malaga | 0 - 3 | Alaves |
| 2017-12-21 | Alaves | 1 - 0 | Malaga |
| 2017-03-11 | Malaga | 1 - 2 | Alaves |
| 2016-10-16 | Alaves | 1 - 1 | Malaga |
Memorable Matches
The most recent meeting in the data came on May 20, 2023, when Alaves won 2-1 over Malaga. It followed a 1-0 Malaga home win on December 18, 2022, so the sides split their two most recent encounters.
Earlier results favored Alaves. On May 6, 2018, they won 3-0 away at Malaga, the most one-sided result in the listed history. Alaves also took a 1-0 home win on December 21, 2017, and a 2-1 win at Malaga on March 11, 2017.
The first meeting listed, on October 16, 2016, finished 1-1 at Alaves. Across the six matches, Alaves have four wins, Malaga one, and one draw ended level.
Venue Factor
Estadio Mendizorrotza hosts this Matchday 10 fixture. The data provided does not include a full home record for Alaves this season, though their listed home matches in the recent form window, a 1-0 loss to Valencia on September 15 and a 2-1 loss to Atletico Madrid on October 10, ended in defe
Injury Concerns
Alaves
Malaga
