Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the La Liga match.
Villarreal aim to solidify their position in the European competition spots, particularly given the inconsistency of their rivals in the league. Meanwhile, Deportivo Alavés are looking to distance themselves from the relegation zone and are in need of points. Given both teams' defensive fragility, it seems likely that neither will keep a clean sheet in this matchup.
Villarreal
Villarreal have been consistent in attack, averaging 1.8 goals per game, but they also concede quite a bit—1.7 goals per match. They have the unique distinction of not keeping a single clean sheet all season. In head-to-head encounters with Deportivo Alavés, both teams have found the net in their last 11 meetings.
Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés face similar defensive challenges, having conceded 19 goals in 11 games. However, their attack is not lacking, with 14 goals scored (an average of 1.27 per game). Toni Martinez and Kike Garcia have been standout performers, each netting three goals. Notably, the Basque side have gone unbeaten in their last three encounters with Villarreal, which could provide a confidence boost.
Villarreal vs Deportivo Alavés Prediction
Given Villarreal's strong performance in La Liga, they are regarded as the favourites. However, historically, matches against Deportivo Alavés have always been tightly contested affairs. Both teams frequently score against each other, and this game should be no exception. Therefore, we're backing both teams to score.
