Overview
Deportivo Alaves is experiencing a volatile season when they have only won 7 matches, drawn 5 and lost 12 matches after 24 rounds in La Liga. With 26 points, the Basque representative is currently ranked 14th in the standings, only 2 points ahead of the relegation group - the area currently held by Mallorca, Levante and Real Oviedo.
Coach Eduardo Coudet's team entered this round after a 1-1 draw against Sevilla. Notably, Alaves has earned 7 points in the last 4 rounds - a positive sign in the tense relegation race.
Home field form is the mainstay of the Basque team this season. After 12 matches at Mendizorrotza, they won 18 points with 5 wins, 3 draws and 4 defeats. In head-to-head history, Alaves has won 10/30 encounters with Girona, but in the first leg this season, they suffered a 0-1 defeat.
In the opposite direction, Girona is dominating in recent encounters when winning 2/3 of the most recent matches against Alaves, including a 1-0 victory in the second leg of the 2024-2025 season.
The representative of Catalonia traveled here with an excited mentality after a 2-1 victory over defending champion Barcelona at home. Coach Michel's team has won 4/7 recent rounds in La Liga and only lost one match - a surprising 0-1 defeat to bottom-ranked Real Oviedo.
Currently, Girona is ranked 12th in the standings, 5 points ahead of the relegation group, and also only 5 points behind Celta Vigo's seventh position. However, away form is still something they have to be wary of when they have only won 13 points after 12 trips this season.
Personnel situation
Deportivo Alaves will welcome the return of Jonny Otto after suspension, but will still be missing Ville Koski and Carlos Protesoni due to injury.
Toni Martinez was a bright spot in the 1-1 draw against Sevilla in the most recent round, and the 28-year-old striker is likely to continue to lead the attack. In general, Alaves' starting lineup is unlikely to have many changes, as Carles Alena and Lucas Boye are still noteworthy attacking options.
On the other side, Girona will not have the service of Joel Roca due to suspension, after this midfielder was sent off in the match against Barcelona.
In addition, the injury list of the away team still includes Azzedine Ounahi, Alex Moreno, Juan Carlos, Portu and Donny van de Beek, making it impossible for Girona to field the strongest squad.
Coach Michel is likely to maintain the framework that defeated Barcelona, in which Thomas Lemar continues to take on the role of attacking midfielder, in order to maintain stability and excitement before the away match at the Mendizorrotza stadium.
Expected lineup:
Sivera, Tenaglia, Garces, Pacheco, Otto, Calebe, Blanco, Suarez, Alena, Martinez, Boye.
Gazzaniga, Rincon, Reis, Blind, Martinez, Tsygankov, Lemar, Witsel, Martin, Gil, Vanat.
The match between Alaves and Girona takes place at 3:00 AM on February 24 (Vietnam time).
