Atletico Madrid vs Deportivo Alaves
Estadio Wanda Metropolitano is the venue as La Liga pacesetters Atletico Madrid take on relegation-threatened Deportivo Alaves in a high-stake fixture.
After being ousted from the UEFA Champions League to Chelsea (0-1 H, 0-2 A), Atletico can channel their energy on La Liga, where they have not lost any of their last four matches (W2, D2). After winning eight consecutive league games at the Wanda Metropolitano, ‘Los Colchoneros’ have picked up just a single triumph in their last four encounters here (D2, L1), conceding over 1.5 goals on two of those occasions. Diego Simeone’s men have let in six goals in their last four home La Liga fixtures, three more than they managed in their previous ten in the competition. Notably, though, ‘Los Rojiblancos’ are unbeaten in their last 25 home league matches against Basque visitors (W20, D5) and have only lost once in their ten top-flight meetings with Alaves at this venue (W7, D2).
Meanwhile, before playing out a 1-1 draw with Cadiz at home last time out, Alaves had suffered four consecutive La Liga defeats by an aggregate score of 13-3. Away from home, Abelardo’s men have failed to win any of their last eight league games (D2, L6), drawing a blank in four while scoring precisely once per match in three of the other four. Only Granada (28) have conceded more away La Liga goals than Alaves (26) this season, with ‘El Glorioso’ keeping a clean sheet in only 15.38% of their top-flight trips thus far (2/13). Particularly vulnerable after the half-time break, the visitors have registered a clear majority (69.23%) of their total La Liga goals conceded away from home in the second half of play (18/26). Additionally, they have failed to shut out Atletico in any of their four top-flight H2Hs in the capital since returning to La Liga in 2016.