Alavés and Athletic battle for survival and European spots in crucial LaLiga clash. A decisive LaLiga match takes place in Vitoria: Alavés is striving to escape the relegation zone, while Athletic seeks to return to the race for Europe. Both clubs take the field with changed lineups and under pressure for results.
One of the most intense matches of LaLiga EA Sports Matchday 34 is taking place today in Vitoria: Alavés hosts Athletic at the Mendizorroza stadium. This game is critical for the home side—the team sits just two points above the relegation zone and is forced to earn points to avoid slipping among the outsiders by the end of the round. Athletic, meanwhile, is in tenth place, but a victory would allow the club to draw level on points with Getafe and Celta, bringing them back into the race for European competition spots.
Stakes and pressure
Alavés comes into the game after an important win over Mallorca, which temporarily gave them some breathing room from their pursuers. However, the head-to-head statistics are not in their favor: in the last eight LaLiga matches against Athletic, the team has only managed one win (three draws, four losses), with the last victory recorded in September 2025. In the history of the league, Alavés has only once beaten this opponent twice in a row—back in 2020.
Changes in the lineups
Alavés' coaching staff has kept their usual formation with five defenders, focusing on controlling possession through Denis Suárez in midfield and attacking with Toni Martínez and Diabate. The starting lineup includes Sivera, Ángel Pérez, Jonny Otto, Tenaglia, Parada, Rebbach, Antonio Blanco, Ibáñez, Denis Suárez, Toni Martínez, and Ibrahim. Athletic, after three defeats in their last four matches, has made adjustments: Yeray, Laporte, and Jauregizar have been added to the starting eleven. Also on the pitch will be Unai Simón, Gorosabel, Yuri, Rego, Iñaki Williams, Unai Gómez, Nico Williams, and Guruzeta.
Emotions and atmosphere
The match is taking place in cool weather, but the atmosphere in the stands is tense: supporters of both teams are actively cheering, and the stadium is decorated with blue-and-white and red-and-white flags. The game is refereed by Alejandro Quintero, with David Gálvez in charge of VAR. In pre-match comments, both coaches emphasized the emotional significance of the derby and the need for maximum concentration.
Context and significance
In LaLiga, the fight for survival and for European competition spots has intensified towards the end of the season. Alavés risks falling into the relegation zone as early as this round if they fail to earn points. For Athletic, this match is a chance to end a losing streak and rejoin the contenders for European tournaments. A similar relegation battle has already occurred at other clubs: recently, Girona and Mallorca were also forced to change their starting lineups at a critical stage of the season, a situation thoroughly examined in the article about lineup changes and the fight to stay in La Liga.
