Prediction: Alaves vs Girona

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 8/11

Bookmaker: Luckster

Looking to take another giant step towards booking a silver medal finish, Girona will travel to the Mendizorroza when they meet Alaves on Friday night.

Alaves

Starting with the hosts, while Alaves might have only made their La Liga return this season, El Glorioso have continued to receive plenty of plaudits. Last seen putting in another gritty performance as they clinched a 1-0 victory away at Valencia, Luis Plaza’s men are now dreaming of the chance to book a remarkable top-half finish over the final few weeks. Signing off April with a major statement as they stormed their way to a 3-0 romp against Celta Vigo, the Basque-based outfit have won all of their previous three La Liga appearances on the bounce. Skyrocketing up the standings and with their recent purple patch underlined by a 2-0 victory against Spanish heavyweights Atletico Madrid on April 21st, Alaves will also be excited by their extended success on home soil. In fact, Plaza’s side have registered nine points from their last four top-flight battles at the Mendizorroza.

Team News

Dealing with a long-term knee injury and not making a single appearance since returning from March’s international break, Alaves have confirmed that Serbian defender Aleksandar Sedlar will not feature over the remainder of the season. Suffering a knock last month, one-time Espanyol star Ruben Duarte remains a real doubt here.

Although veteran striker Kike Garcia might have failed to find the net since the end of January, the 34-year-old will spearhead Alaves’ charge on Friday night. Real Madrid loanee Rafa Marin could be handed a full recall this weekend and start at the heart of Plaza’s defence.

Girona

As for the visitors, officially wrapping up an iconic Champions League ticket with plenty of time left, Girona have cemented their spot as one of Europe’s ultimate surprise packages this season. In the midst of what has been a famous fairytale in Catalonia, Michel Sanchez’s men have continued to break a string of records in 2024. Last seen mounting a stunning comeback at home against local rivals Barcelona as they stormed their way to an action-packed 4-2 victory, the Blanquivermells are riding a clinical wave of momentum. Including a 4-1 romp against Cadiz on April 20th, Girona have won all of their previous three consecutive domestic appearances by an aggregate score of 10-3. Likewise, it should also be highlighted, Friday’s guests have mustered 12 points from their last five La Liga outings. Landing a 3-0 romp when they welcomed Alaves to Catalonia for their reverse showdown on December 18th, Sanchez will be calling on a repeat performance here.

Team News

All still dealing with respective injury issues, Girona will be unable to call upon the likes of Ricard Artero, Broja Garcia and academy graduate Joel Roca. Likewise, dealing with a recent knock, one-time Middlesbrough misfit Cristhian Stuani is not expected to feature on Friday night.

Once again getting on the scoresheet against Barcelona last weekend and notching a 20th La Liga goal of the season, the red-hot Artem Dovbyk will certainly play a leading role here. Linked with a potential summer switch to Bayern Munich, Aleix Garcia will be joined with Angel Herrera in midfielder.

Key Factors to Consider

• When Alaves and Girona met for their reverse La Liga contest on December 18th, the Blanquivermells collected a 3-0 romp in Catalonia.
• Girona have won all of their previous three La Liga appearances by an aggregate score of 10-3.
• Likewise, Alaves have won all of their last three consecutive top-flight matchups by an aggregate score of 5-0.
• Friday’s hosts have suffered just a single defeat from any of their previous six showdowns at the Mendizorroza.
• Ukraine International striker Artem Dovbyk has recorded six goals in just his previous five La Liga appearances.

Conclusion

Already wrapping up a famous Champions League ticket and riding a stunning wave of momentum, Girona will simply be looking to make another statement here. Mount a heavyweight comeback last week as they secured a 4-2 victory against local rivals Barcelona, Friday’s guests have continued to gain a reputation for their free-scoring performances in the final third. However, despite landing a 3-0 romp when they welcomed Alaves to Catalonia for their reverse showdown on December 18th, Girona will be more than aware that they face a far sterner challenge this weekend.

Verdict: Both teams to score

Best Odds: 8/11

Bookmaker: Luckster