Our prediction for this Primera Division match:
Alaves
Match Time & Date:
31/03/2024
18:30
Prediction: 1-1
Real Sociedad
Alaves will be aiming to make amends for a 2-0 loss to Athletic Club when they take on Real Sociedad in the Basque derby. Alaves failed to spoil Athletic Bilbao’s party at San Mames before the international break, but it is well known that they produce much better showings at home than on the travels. Adrian Rodriguez has joined Aleksandar Sedlar in the recovery room, but there are no suspended players in the home team.
La Real, on the other hand, aim to build on back-to-back win over Granada and Cadiz. Real Sociedad are eager to keep their Champions League hopes alive, but beating Alaves at Estadio Mendizorrotza is easier said than done. Taking everything into account, we predict that the two sides are going to share the spoils in the Basque derby. The likes of Aihen Munoz, Robin Le Normand, Carlos Fernandez, Ander Barrenetxea, and Alvaro Odriozola are out of contention with injuries for the visiting side.
Highlighted Player (Mikel Oyarzabal):
Intelligence is not an attribute you will find in Mikel Oyarzabal’s stats with Real Sociedad but this tricky winger is a highly knowledgeable winger who will use both brain and feet while playing. For a player born in Eibar, who made his first steps in his hometown club, it was always going to be a choice between Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad for Oyarzabal.
La Real saw their chance and grabbed this gem of a player at a young age, helping him develop into a proper professional throughout their youth ranks. Mikel Oyarzabal has spent the entirety of his senior career with the Basque behemoths where he’d use his ability to fill in a number of positions up top much to his own benefit.
Oyarzabal’s positioning and movement are work of a tactical genius, whereas it is his nous to find details to exploit that best define him as a player. Having come through the youth categories of the Spanish national team, Oyarzabal also has a senior cap next to his name. It was in 2016 that he also represented the Basque region, scoring on his debut to cap a 3-1 win over Tunisia.
Highlighted Team (Alaves):
Alaves is a Spanish football club located in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Alava. The club were founded in 1921 and they play their home games at Estadio Mendizorrotza. The capacity of the stadium is 19,840 and it has to be noted that it is the third oldest stadium in Spanish football. After spending several years in the Spanish Segunda Division, los Babazorros returned to the top flight in 2016.
The color of Alaves’ home kit is blue and white and the club’s local rivals are fellow Basque sides Real Sociedad, Athletic Club, Osasuna and Eibar. Alaves made it to the UEFA CUP final in 2001, but they were beaten by Liverpool 5-4 in a thrilling football clash. Anyhow, that is still regarded as the club’s biggest success. Los Babazorros booked their place in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals on four occasions and they have yet to win the Primera Division trophy.
Man City 
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Crystal Palace 
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Newcastle 
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Tottenham
Southampton 
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