Alavés in desperate need of a bounce as relegation zone looms
With just 4 points from their last 21 available, Alavés face a critical moment in their season as they prepare for tough away fixtures at Villarreal and Atlético Madrid.
The Basque side are experiencing their most challenging period of the season, with the drop zone now just three points away and a daunting fixture list on the horizon.
Form falling off a cliff
Alavés’ recent form has been proper pants, managing to collect just 4 points from their last 21 available. What’s particularly concerning is their inability to dispatch direct relegation rivals - recent disappointing results against Osasuna and Real Oviedo have set alarm bells ringing around Mendizorroza.
The upcoming schedule offers little comfort for the Babazorros, with consecutive away trips to Villarreal and Atlético Madrid. Not exactly the kind of fixtures you want when you’re desperate to stop the rot.
Coudet calling for change
Manager Eduardo ‘Chacho’ Coudet isn’t one to sugar-coat things. After the disappointing draw against Oviedo, he was brutally honest about the situation:
“We need to work hard, forget about holidays and free days,” the Argentine admitted in his post-match comments.
While the situation isn’t completely dire - they remain outside the relegation zone with more points than at this stage in their previous two seasons - there’s no denying the downward trajectory. They’ve shown flashes of quality against the big boys like Barcelona and Real Madrid without picking up points, but more worryingly, they’ve been well below par against their direct competitors.
Dressing room drama
Compounding their on-field struggles are off-field issues. Mariano Díaz and Moussá Diarrá have been left out of the last three squads after they reportedly walked out of training before the Copa del Rey match against Sevilla upon learning they wouldn’t be starting.
While this isn’t the sole cause of Alavés’ poor form, these kinds of disruptions are the last thing a struggling team needs. Restoring harmony in the changing room will be crucial if they’re to stop what’s threatening to become a proper free-fall.
The silver lining
Despite the doom and gloom, Alavés still have their destiny in their own hands. The priority for Coudet must be recapturing the defensive solidity that characterized much of their early season form. If they can shore up at the back and rediscover their team spirit, they’ve got every chance of putting some daylight between themselves and the trap door.