Match Information
Match Overview
Valencia host Alaves at the Estadio de Mestalla in a crucial La Liga encounter on Matchday 27, with both teams fighting different battles in the 2025-26 season. This regular season fixture arrives at a pivotal juncture, with Valencia sitting in 15th place on 29 points while Alaves occupy 16th with 27 points, making this effectively a relegation six-pointer that could prove decisive in determining which side maintains their top-flight status.
The injury situation presents significant challenges for both managers, particularly impacting team selection and tactical approaches. Valencia will be without several key defensive players, with Mouctar Diakhaby's muscle injury removing a crucial center-back option, while Dimitri Foulquier's knee problem eliminates a versatile full-back. Most concerning for Carlos Corberan is the knee injury to goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala, though Stole Dimitrievski remains available as the primary keeper. Lucas Beltran's questionable status due to a knee injury also limits attacking options. Alaves face their own selection headaches with Victor Parada suspended following a red card and Pablo Ibanez unavailable due to yellow card accumulation, while Facundo Garces serves a suspension that weakens their defensive depth.
Recent form analysis reveals contrasting trajectories, with Valencia showing glimpses of improvement in their last fixture, securing a vital 1-0 victory over Osasuna at home after suffering defeats to Villarreal and Real Madrid. Alaves, conversely, have struggled for consistency, managing just seven wins from 26 league matches and suffering a disappointing 2-0 defeat to Levante in their most recent outing. The head-to-head record slightly favors Alaves in recent meetings, including a goalless draw earlier this season, but Valencia's home advantage at the atmospheric Mestalla could prove crucial in this relegation battle where every point carries enormous significance for both clubs' survival hopes.
Predicted Lineups
Valencia
Dimitrievski; Rendall, Nunez, Comert, Gaya; Ramazani, Guerra, Rodriguez, Rioja; Sadiq, Ugrinic
Alaves
Sivera; Tenaglia, Pacheco, Guridi, Munoz; Perez, Blanco, Alena, Rebbach; Martinez, Boye
Team Form Analysis
Valencia
Valencia Form Analysis
Valencia's recent form presents a mixed picture of a team struggling for consistency but showing signs of resilience when needed most. Their last five matches reveal the challenges facing Carlos Corberan's side, with just two victories from five outings highlighting their precarious league position. The 1-0 home victory over Osasuna provided a crucial lifeline, demonstrating their ability to grind out results in pressure situations, but this was sandwiched between disappointing defeats to quality opponents like Villarreal and Real Madrid.
Defensively, Valencia have been vulnerable throughout the campaign, conceding 39 goals in 26 matches, which represents one of the worst defensive records in La Liga. Their recent matches have shown this fragility, particularly in away fixtures where they've managed just two wins from 13 attempts. However, their home form offers more encouragement, with five wins from 13 Mestalla encounters providing a foundation for optimism. The attacking output has been inconsistent, with 27 goals scored reflecting their struggles to create and convert chances regularly. The team's seven clean sheets suggest they can be solid when everything clicks, but the frequency of these performances needs improvement to climb away from relegation danger.
Alaves
Alaves Form Analysis
Alaves approach this fixture in concerning form, having managed just seven victories from their 26 La Liga matches this season under Eduardo Coudet's guidance. Their recent 2-0 defeat to Levante epitomizes their struggles, as they failed to break down a side also battling relegation, highlighting their lack of cutting edge in crucial matches. The team's away record presents particular concern, with only two wins from 13 road trips, making their task at the hostile Mestalla environment even more daunting.
Offensively, Alaves have been among the league's least potent sides, scoring just 23 goals in 26 matches, averaging less than one goal per game. This lack of firepower has been their Achilles heel, with the team failing to score in 10 matches already this season. Their defensive record shows 34 goals conceded, which while not the worst in the division, still represents a negative goal difference that reflects their relegation battle status. The team's home form provides some solace with five wins from 13 matches at Mendizorrotza, but their inability to translate this into away success has left them hovering dangerously close to the drop zone. Recent performances suggest a team lacking confidence and struggling to find the right formula to escape their predicament.
Head-to-Head
Valencia
Alaves
Recent Meetings
| Date | Home | Score | Away |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-10-20 | Alaves | 0 - 0 | Valencia |
| 2025-05-14 | Alaves | 1 - 0 | Valencia |
| 2024-12-22 | Valencia | 2 - 2 | Alaves |
| 2024-07-24 | Valencia | 0 - 1 | Alaves |
| 2024-05-05 | Valencia | 0 - 1 | Alaves |
| 2023-09-02 | Alaves | 1 - 0 | Valencia |
| 2023-07-29 | Valencia | 2 - 0 | Alaves |
| 2022-02-13 | Alaves | 2 - 1 | Valencia |
| 2021-08-27 | Valencia | 3 - 0 | Alaves |
| 2021-04-24 | Valencia | 1 - 1 | Alaves |
Memorable Matches
The recent history between Valencia and Alaves has produced several compelling encounters that highlight the competitive nature of this fixture. Their most recent meeting earlier this season ended in a goalless stalemate at Mendizorrotza, a result that reflected both teams' struggles for consistency and attacking prowess. This draw continued a pattern of tight contests between the sides, with neither able to establish clear dominance.
One of the most dramatic recent encounters occurred in December 2024 when Valencia secured a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Mestalla, with both teams showcasing attacking intent in an entertaining affair that saw lead changes and late drama. The match demonstrated both sides' capacity for exciting football when the shackles are removed. Earlier meetings have often been characterized by narrow margins, including Alaves' 1-0 victory in May 2025 that highlighted their ability to frustrate Valencia in crucial moments. These fixtures typically feature tactical battles between teams of similar standing, making them unpredictable encounters where individual moments of quality or defensive lapses often prove decisive in determining the outcome.
Venue Factor
The Estadio de Mestalla represents a significant advantage for Valencia in this crucial relegation battle, with the iconic stadium's atmosphere capable of lifting the home side when they need it most. Valencia's home record this season shows five wins from 13 matches, which while not exceptional, still provides a better foundation than their woeful away form. The Mestalla faithful have witnessed some memorable moments this campaign, including the vital victory over Osasuna that could prove crucial in their survival fight.
For Alaves, traveling to Valencia presents a formidable challenge given their poor away record of just two wins from 13 matches. The team has struggled to adapt their game plan for hostile environments, often appearing tentative and lacking the conviction shown in home fixtures. The atmosphere at Mestalla, particularly in high-stakes matches like relegation battles, can be intimidating for visiting sides, with the passionate Valencia support creating a cauldron-like environment. Historically, Alaves have found it difficult to impose themselves at this venue, and their recent struggles on the road suggest they'll need to overcome both tactical and psychological barriers to secure a positive result in this crucial encounter.
Injury Concerns
Valencia
Alaves
