Key Facts
- Alavés, currently 18th in the table, is under immense pressure: With only three games remaining and two points behind Girona, the team faces the threat of direct relegation if it fails to earn any points.
- Barcelona travels to Alavés as the newly crowned champions; in the Clásico, Rashford and Ferran Torres scored before the 20th minute, demonstrating their ability to decide the game early on.
- Alavés has scored in each of its last five league games but has also conceded in all five — consistent offensive output coupled with defensive vulnerability.
- Barcelona has won the last five head-to-head matches (scoring in every game); Alavés has not managed a single draw during this period.
- Barcelona will be without Lamine Yamal (muscle tear) and Andreas Christensen (torn ligament); rotation is possible following celebrations, yet Raphinha, Lewandowski, and Rashford remain strong attacking options.
- Joan García’s strong form in the Clásico and Barcelona’s three 0-0 draws in four league matches support the “Both Teams to Score: No” betting option despite Alavés’ recent scoring streak.
Fresh off winning the title following their 2-0 Clásico victory over Real Madrid, Hansi Flick’s team travels to Estadio Mendizorrotza with a sense of freedom. Alavés sits in 18th place in the standings and is fighting with its back against the wall: With three games remaining, coach Quique Sánchez Flores desperately needs points; his team trails Girona by two points and leads Levante by one. The last meeting in November 2025 ended 3-1 in favor of Barcelona, fitting the recent pattern of this matchup.
- Venue: Estadio Mendizorrotza, Vitoria-Gasteiz
- Date and time: May 13, 2026, 9:30 PM
- Competition: La Liga (Matchday 36)
The early goals against Real Madrid favor Barcelona at halftime, while the absence of Lamine Yamal and the already secured title suggest fewer than 3.5 goals. Joan García’s clean sheet in the Clásico makes “Both Teams to Score: No” a perfectly reasonable option despite Alavés’ recent scoring streak.
Alavés Form & Record Check
Alavés drew 1-1 in Elche, a result that keeps them in the relegation battle without easing the pressure. Toni Martínez’s penalty gave them something to defend, but the equalizer after the break points to a more fundamental problem.
They have scored in all five of their most recent league matches, but have also conceded in all five. At Mendizorrotza, the picture has been mixed lately. The 2-1 win against Mallorca showed that they can win a tight home game, but the 2-4 loss to Athletic Club exposed just how vulnerable the defense becomes as soon as space opens up. Since their games regularly pick up the pace after halftime, Sánchez Flores is likely to push for a more compact first hour rather than chasing another reactive comeback. Their away performances also tell their own story. A 3-3 draw at Real Sociedad and a 2-1 loss at Real Madrid were not passive displays, especially since Alavés scored in each game after the break. The problem is that these performances have never resulted in clean defensive phases, and against Barcelona, this weakness could quickly become the deciding factor.
Alavés is likely to line up in a 5-3-2, though this is a prediction and not a confirmed starting lineup. With no injuries reported, Antonio Sivera (No. 1) should be between the posts, backed by a defensive line anchored by Nahuel Tenaglia (No. 14) and Jon Pacheco (No. 5). In midfield, Antonio Blanco (No. 8) and Jon Guridi (No. 18) are expected to call the shots. Up front, all signs point to Lucas Boyé (No. 15) and Toni Martínez (No. 11).
Barcelona Form & Record Check
Things have been unusually lively at Barcelona lately: Following the 2-0 win in El Clásico came the title parade, with Marcus Rashford and Ferran Torres scoring before the 20th minute and Dani Olmo setting up the second goal. The performance was not merely symbolic; it demonstrated that Flick’s team can decide top-tier matches early on and then control the tempo without losing their composure. The last five matches across all competitions have been flawless: league wins against Celta Vigo, Getafe, Osasuna, and Real Madrid, as well as a Champions League quarterfinal victory at Atlético Madrid. The domestic run has been particularly controlled, with three shutouts in the last four league games; only Osasuna managed to score during that period. The only concern is the squad situation. Lamine Yamal is out with a muscle tear, and Andreas Christensen is also unavailable, so rotation following the celebrations would come as no surprise. Even then, Flick has enough quality in attack with Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, Ferran Torres, and Marcus Rashford, while Joan García provides a solid foundation in defense.
Barcelona could line up in a 4-2-3-1, with Joan García (No. 13) in goal behind Jules Koundé (No. 23), Ronald Araujo (No. 4), Pau Cubarsí (No. 5), and Alejandro Balde (No. 3). Frenkie de Jong (No. 21) is likely to form the backbone of the midfield alongside Marc Casadó (No. 17), which would give Hansi Flick control and defensive stability. With Andreas Christensen sidelined due to a torn ligament, Ronald Araujo (No. 4) and Pau Cubarsí (No. 5) are expected to form the central defensive duo. Lamine Yamal is also out with a torn muscle fiber, which is why the forecast places Raphinha (No. 11), Dani Olmo (No. 20), and Marcus Rashford (No. 14) behind Robert Lewandowski (No. 9).
Alaves – Barcelona Head-to-Head & Stats
The last five matchups clearly favor Barcelona: 3-1 in November 2025, 1-0 in 2025, 0–3 in 2024, 1–3 in 2024, and 2–1 in 2023. That’s five consecutive competitive wins in this matchup; Barcelona scored in every game, and Alavés is still waiting for even a single draw during this period. The scoring trends are a bit more nuanced than they appear at first glance. Four of the five games exceeded the 2.5-goal mark, but the narrow 1-0 win from 2025 shows that Barcelona is occasionally content with a controlled victory. However, the trend in the second half is likely to cause Alavés more concern, as Barcelona has consistently built a decisive lead during that period in these encounters.
