First Team

Match Pack: Deportivo Alavés vs Athletic Club (LaLiga MD6)

The Zurigorri are looking keep this good run going and consolidate their place at the top end of the table

This space is sponsored by

Sep 22, 2023

Athletic Club make the short trip from Bilbao to Vitoria-Gasteiz and Mendizorrotza for their LaLiga EA Sports Matchday 6 fixture. Ernesto Valverde's Lions take on recently promoted Deportivo Deportivo in what is our second Basque derby so far this season.

Los Rojiblancos currently sit in the third place with 10 points in the standings and will be looking to extend their four-match unbeaten run.

Match Info
Deportivo Alavés vs Athletic Club

Mendizorrotza, Vitoria-Gasteiz

LaLiga EA Sports 23/24 (Matchday 6)

Friday September 22, 21:00 CEST

How to Watch
When and where to watch Friday's Basque derby in any part of the world.

Team News
Valverde has named a 23-man squad for the trip to Vitoria-Gasteiz.

Peru Nolaskoain and Nico Williams are the only absences as they continue their respective recoveries from injury.

Valverde's Comments
The gaffer expects a tough match at Mendizorrotza

⚪️🔵 🆚 🔴⚪️

"It has all the ingredients to be a classic derby match."

"We have to keep grafting away. There's a lot to play for tomorrow."

🎙️ Ernesto Valverde #AlavésAthletic #AthleticClub 🦁 pic.twitter.com/thE3FSzBdz
— Athletic Club (@Athletic_en) September 21, 2023

The Opponents

Head coach: Luis García Plaza

The 50-year-old tactician took over at Alavés in May 2022 and took the club back into LaLiga EA Sports via the play-offs in his first season. García Plaza has a wealth of experience in the top levels of Spanish football, having also managed Elche CF, Levante UD, Getafe CF, Villarreal CF and RCD Mallorca. He's also worked overseas at Baniyas SC (United Araba Emirates), Beijing Renhe (China, two spells) and Al-Shabab (Saudi Arabia).

Summer signings:

It has been a very busy summer in Gasteiz, with Alavés bringing in 12 new players - six on permanent deals and six loans. At the same time, six players have also left the club.

IN: Antonio Blanco (midfielder, from Real Madrid), Ander Guevara (midfielder, from Real Sociedad), Nikola Maras (defender, UD Almería), Nahuel Tenaglia (defender, from CA Talleres), Andoni Gorosabel (defender, from Real Sociedad), Kike García (forward, free agent), Jon Karrikaburu (forward, loaned from Real Sociedad), Ianis Hagi (midfielder, loaned from Rangers FC), Alex Sola (defender, loaned from Real Sociedad), Giuliano Simeone (forward, loaned from Atletico Madrid), Rafa Marín (defender, loaned from Real Madrid), Samu Omorodion (forward, loaned from Atletico Madrid).

OUT: Florian Lejeune (defender, to Rayo Vallecano), Jason (midfielder, to Arouca), Toni Moya (midfielder, to Real Zaragoza), Salva Sevilla (midfielder, to RC Deportivo), Mamadou Sylla (forward, to Real Valladolid), Taichi Hara (forward, to Kyoto Sanga).

Recent form: LWLWL

Alavés have picked up two wins and a draw from their first five matches back in the top-flight. A sign on their intention to Mendizorrotza into a fortress, both victories have come at home while the loss came on the road.

Previous Meetings
The first ever LaLiga clash between the two Basque sides took place in 1930/31 with Athletic winning 7-1 thanks to a hat-trick from Agustín "Bata" Sauto.

We've faced each other a total of 34 times in top-flight competition, with Los Rojiblancos recording 21 wins, seven draws and six losses.

As for the 17 meetings in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Athletic have registered eight victories, four ties and five defeats.

In recent years, Los Leones have struggled on their trips to Mendizorrotza, picking up two draws and three lossed from our last five visits to the ground.

Our last match at Mendizorrotza was a cold and dreary winter's encounter back in the 2021/22 campaign. In a match affected by the weather, Athletic struggled to break down a stubborn Alavés defence.