Alavés vs Barcelona – News and Probable Lineups

Having just been crowned La Liga champions for the 2025-26 season, Barcelona is set to continue their league campaign against relegation-threatened Alaves on Wednesday evening.

Hansi Flick’s team clinched the title with a 2-0 victory over Real Madrid during El Clasico on Sunday, and now they will face an Alaves side currently sitting in 18th place in the La Liga standings.

Match overview

Although Alaves has lost only two of their last eight La Liga encounters, they have secured victories in just two of those matches, placing them firmly in the relegation battle as the season reaches its conclusion.

El Glorioso will approach this fixture following a 1-1 draw with Elche, currently finding themselves in 18th position, one point shy of 17th-placed Girona, who are scheduled to play Rayo Vallecano on Monday night.

Quique Sanchez Flores’ squad will face Real Oviedo and Rayo Vallecano in their last two league games of the season, where securing wins in both fixtures is attainable, but succumbing to Barcelona in this match would put them in a precarious position.

Alaves has gathered 24 points from their 17 home league matches this season, a record that ranks 14th in the division, welcoming a Barcelona team that boasts the top away record in La Liga this term, having amassed 37 points from 17 games.

This season, Barcelona triumphed over Alaves with a 3-1 result, and the Catalan side is currently on a six-match winning streak against El Glorioso, including a 3-0 victory in the reverse fixture during the 2024-25 season.

Barcelona will be riding high into this matchup, having secured the La Liga title on Sunday evening with a 2-0 victory against their fierce rivals Real Madrid; Flick’s squad is currently a remarkable 14 points ahead of second-placed Los Blancos with three matches remaining.

The Catalan club has emerged victorious in all of their last 11 league matches, winning their last six in all competitions; however, their recent quarter-final elimination in the Champions League at the hands of Atletico Madrid might still weigh on their minds.

Preparations for next season are already in motion, with an emphasis on bolstering their defense to make a serious push for the European Cup in 2026-27, but they aim to conclude their domestic campaign with three more wins against Alaves, Real Betis, and Valencia.

Barcelona holds a dominant record against Alaves, having emerged triumphant in 36 of their previous 50 encounters, suffering only seven defeats in that period.

In La Liga, the two sides have faced off 39 times, with Barcelona claiming victory in 27 of those matches; Alaves has not been able to beat the Catalan team on their home turf since December 2001, highlighting the significant challenge El Glorioso faces on Wednesday night.

Alaves La Liga form:

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Barcelona La Liga form:

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Barcelona form (all competitions):

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Team News

Alaves will once again be without Lucas Boye (muscle injury) and Facundo Garces (suspended) for Wednesday night’s match, while the hosts will need to evaluate both Toni Martinez and Jon Guridi after they were substituted during the 1-1 draw with Elche.

Martinez has netted seven goals in his last seven La Liga appearances, and Alaves hopes that the forward will be available to play against the champions.

Carles Alena returns after his suspension and is set to face his former club, while another ex-Barcelona player, Denis Suarez, might be included in the starting XI.

For Barcelona, Lamine Yamal remains out due to a hamstring injury, and Raphinha, just back from a separate muscular issue, will be sidelined due to the accumulation of yellow cards he received in the match against Real Madrid.

Andreas Christensen has returned to training following a serious knee injury, and there is optimism that the Denmark international could see action before the season concludes.

Barcelona manager Flick is expected to make several adjustments from the lineup used in El Clasico, with Jules Kounde, Alejandro Balde, Ronald Araujo, and Frenkie de Jong all likely to feature, along with Robert Lewandowski, who has scored seven goals in his last five matchups against Alaves.

Alaves probable starting XI:

Sivera; Perez, Otto, Tenaglia, Parada, Rebbach; Suarez, Blanco, Alena; Martinez, Diabate

Barcelona probable starting XI:

J Garcia; Kounde, E Garcia, Araujo, Balde; De Jong, Pedri; Rashford, Gavi, Fermin; Lewandowski

Alaves urgently needs a positive outcome to enhance their survival chances, but with Barcelona in their current form, it’s anticipated that the champions will secure yet another victory.