Alaves vs Barcelona Match Analysis and Prediction

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Barcelona will be looking to get back to winning ways after two successive defeats in separate competitions when they resume their La Liga campaign away to struggling Alaves on Sunday.

The Catalan giants are currently sixth in the La Liga table, one point behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid, while Alaves sit 18th, three points behind 17th -placed Mallorca.

Alaves replaced their manager at the end of December, with Jose Luis Mendilibar taking over from Javier Calleja, and the 60-yaer-old has recorded two draws and one defeat from his three matches in charge.

El Glorioso were eliminated from the Copa del Rey in the middle of December, so each of their last five matches have been in La Liga, picking up just two points during that run, holding Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao at home before losing 4-0 to Real Betis on January 18.

Alaves are bidding to secure a sixth straight season in La Liga, but they have finished 16th in each of their last two season and will seemingly face a battle to avoid being relegated back to the Segunda.

Meanwhile, Barcelona will enter this contest off the back of a 3-2 defeat by Athletic Bilbao in the Copa del Rey on Thursday, with the Basque outfit winning in the extra-time through a penalty from Iker Muniain.

They also lost 3-2 to Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Spanish Super Cup on January 12, while they were held to a 1-1 draw by Granada in their last league game on January 8.

Barcelona need to start finding a run of consistent form in the league, having not won back-to-back fixtures in La Liga since the end of November.

They will take on Atletico and Espanyol in their opening two league games of February, before hosting Napoli in the Europa League on February 17.

Alaves vs Barcelona head to head

The pair have previously met on 28 occasions across all competitions, where Barcelona have taken 20 victories while Alaves have won 4, and they have drawn in 4. Barcelona have scored 73 goals and conceded 23. In their last five meetings, Barcelona have won three and they have drawn in two.

Barcelona 4-1 Alaves 21/12/19

Alaves 0-5 Barcelona 19/07/20

Alaves 1-1 Barcelona 31/10/20

Barcelona 5-1 Alaves 13/02/21

Barcelona 1-1 Alaves 30/10/21

Alaves latest home form

Alaves have recently been on a less impressive run of form at home, having failed to record a victory in any of their four most recent matches. Their last home victory came on November 6 when they defeated Levante 2-1. They have won one, drawn three and lost one of their last five.

Alaves 2-1 Levante 06/11/21

Alaves 1-2 Celta Vigo 27/11/21

Alaves 1-1 Getafe 11/12/21

Alaves 1-1 Real Sociedad 02/01/22

Alaves 0-0 Ayhletic Bilbao 09/01/2

Alaves latest away form

Alaves have recently been on a poor run of form on the road, having lost in all their last five away matches. Their last away victory came on November 30 when they defeated Unami in the Copa del Rey. In their last five matches, they have scored 4 goals and conceded 15.

Granada 2-1 Alaves 03/12/21

Linares Deportivo 2-1 Alaves 14/12/21

Rayo Vallecano 2-0 Alaves 18/12/21

Villarreal 5-2 Alaves 21/12/21

Real Betis 4-0 Alaves 18/01/22

Barcelona latest home form

Barcelona have recently failed to keep an impressive form at home, as they have recorded just one win in their last five matches. They lost their last home game 3-2 to Real Madrid after extra time in the Spasinsh Super Cup. They defeated Elche 3-2 in their last league home game.

Barcelona 0-0 Benfica 23/11/21

Barcelona 0-1 Real Betis 04/12/21

Barcelona 1-1(P) Boca Juniours 14/12/21

Barcelona 3-2 Elche 18/12/21

Barcelona 2-3(E) Real Madrid 12/01/22

Barcelona latest away form

Barcelona lost their last away game 3-2 to Athletic Bilbao after extra time in the Copa del Rey. However, they have recently been on a good form on the road, having been unbeaten in five matches before that. They have won two, drawn two and lost one of their last five.

Sevilla 1-1 Barcelona 21/12/21

Mallorca 0-1 Barcelona 02/01/22

Linares Deportivo 1-2 Barcelona 05/01/22

Granada 1-1 Barcelona 08/01/22

Athletic Bilbao (E)3-2 Barcelona 20/01/22

Alaves news

Alaves will be missing out on Ruben Duarte and Ximo Navarro through injury, while Florian Lejeune will be back from suspension to boost the defence, with Manu Garcia returning in midfield.

Miguel de la Fuente could also feature alongside Joselu in the final third, with Edgar Mendez potentially dropping down to the bench.

Barcelona news

Sergi Roberto, Samuel Umtiti and Eric Garcia will again be absent, while Memphis Depay remains a doubt due to muscular issue.

Gavi is suspended with his red card against Granada, while Xavi is expected to recall Frenkie de Jong and Luuk de Jong back into the starting XI on Sunday.

Prediction and Odds

We are expecting Alaves to make this game a tough one for their visitors, as they try to get back to winning. Meanwhile, Barcelona will view this match as an important one and we expect them to employ their best efforts in the bid to redeem themselves by a victory on Sunday.

Odds: 1 2.70 X 3.05 2 1.90