Key Facts
- Barcelona leads the standings with 27 points, but its lead over Atlético Madrid is only two points; the recent loss is increasing the pressure.
- Alavés is in seventh place and tied on points with Athletic Bilbao; after a winless streak in the league, any further loss of points will be significant in the standings.
- Barcelona most recently lost to Real Madrid despite Raphinha’s equalizer; Pedri attributed his team’s problems to slow play and turnovers.
- Eric García, Andreas Christensen, Jules Koundé, and Xavi Espart are out for Barcelona on defense, leaving Flick with fewer options against Alavés.
- Barcelona has dominated their head-to-head record, but lost their most recent competitive match against Alavés; this result puts their clear favorite status into perspective.
- The “Both Teams to Score: No” pick is based on the fact that Alavés has failed to score in two of its last five games; Barcelona’s recent goals conceded increase the risk.
Match Preview
The loss to Real Madrid ended Barcelona’s nine-game winning streak in La Liga. Alavés is in seventh place and has gone six league games without a win, but won the last recorded competitive matchup between the two teams in May 2026.
- Date and Time: Oct. 31, 2026, 9:00 p.m.
- Competition: La Liga (Matchday 11)
The betting market clearly favors Barcelona. However, Barcelona’s recent lopsided victories increase the risk of this pick. Alavés’s infrequent goals support “Both Teams to Score: No,” while Barcelona’s recent goals conceded argue against it. “Under 4.5 Goals” is also an interesting option given Alavés’s recent low-scoring games. Both picks are recommended; the deciding factors are Alavés’s narrow losses, its lackluster offense, and the low number of goals in its games.
Barcelona Form & Record Check
Barcelona lost its most recent La Liga match against Real Madrid 1–2. Raphinha’s equalizer wasn’t enough, and Pedri admitted that slow play and turnovers had hurt Flick’s team. These were already issues in the 2–4 Champions League loss to Paris St. Germain. However, the previous 5–2 league win against Real Betis Sevilla shows just how dangerous Barcelona remains. The recent goals conceded make a clean sheet seem unlikely.
Eric García, Andreas Christensen, Jules Koundé, and Xavi Espart are out, limiting Flick’s options on defense. Dani Olmo and Roony Bardghji are also unavailable. Barcelona has conceded goals in four consecutive matches across all competitions, which makes betting on “Both Teams to Score: No” particularly risky. Lamine Yamal and Raphinha could still make an impact on the game through the wing attacks Flick is expected to employ.
Alavés Form & Record Check
In their most recent league match against Málaga CF, Alavés needed a late goal from substitute Aitor Mañas to salvage a 1-1 draw. Following their 1-2 loss to Celta de Vigo, this point is unlikely to reassure Sánchez Flores. His team has earned just two points from its last six league matches and, sitting seventh in the standings, is now tied on points with Athletic Bilbao. At least the three losses in the five league matches listed were close calls.
Facundo Garcés and Mikel Rodriguez are out. This leaves Sánchez Flores with fewer options for fielding a compact defense against Barcelona’s attacks down the wings. Pablo Ibáñez outlined a plan featuring defensive discipline and quick transitions; Lucas Boyé is expected to be a target up front. In the listed league matches against Athletic Bilbao and Valencia CF, Alavés failed to score. That’s a strong argument for “Both Teams to Score: No.”
Barcelona – Alavés Head-to-Head & Statistics
Barcelona has won 14 of the 18 recorded competitive matches between the two teams and is therefore the favorite going into this game. In November 2025, the team won 3–1. In two of the three most recent matches listed, one team failed to score in each game, which supports “Both Teams to Score: No.”
