Barcelona vs Alavés: Match Preview, Prediction, Team News & Head-to-Head

Competition: La Liga
Match: Barcelona vs Deportivo Alavés
Date: Saturday, October 31, 2026
Kick-off: 1:30 AM IST (Sunday, November 1)
Venue: Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona

Match Preview

Barcelona welcome Deportivo Alavés to Spotify Camp Nou for a crucial La Liga encounter as they look to return to winning ways.

Hansi Flick's side had made a perfect start to their league campaign, winning their opening nine matches. However, back-to-back defeats against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and Real Madrid in El Clásico have raised questions about the team's current form.

Despite those setbacks, Barcelona remain top of the La Liga table with 27 points from 10 matches. They will be determined to protect their position and regain confidence in front of their home supporters.

Alavés, meanwhile, sit seventh with 12 points. They started the season strongly but have struggled for consistency in recent weeks. The visitors will hope to exploit Barcelona's defensive injury problems and secure a positive result.

Team News

Barcelona

Barcelona are dealing with several injury concerns ahead of this fixture.

Dani Olmo, Roony Bardghji, Xavi Espart, Eric Garcia, Jules Koundé and Andreas Christensen are reported unavailable.

The defensive absences could force Flick to make changes to his backline, with young players potentially receiving an opportunity.

Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Pedri are expected to play important roles as Barcelona aim to regain their attacking rhythm.

Alavés

Alavés will be without Facundo Garcés and Mikel Rodríguez, who are sidelined with knee injuries.

Quique Sánchez Flores will look to organise his side defensively and take advantage of Barcelona's weakened backline.

Players to Watch

Lamine Yamal – Barcelona

Yamal's dribbling, creativity and ability to beat defenders one-on-one make him a major threat. His performance could be decisive against Alavés' defensive setup.

Raphinha – Barcelona

Raphinha brings pace, pressing intensity and goal-scoring ability. Barcelona will need his contribution in the final third.

Pedri – Barcelona

Pedri's passing and ability to control the tempo will be crucial as Barcelona look to dominate possession.

Lucas Boyé – Alavés

Boyé could be an important attacking outlet for Alavés, particularly if the visitors look to counterattack.

Head-to-Head

Barcelona have historically enjoyed the advantage in this fixture.

The Catalan side have won 36 of their 51 previous meetings with Alavés in all competitions, while Alavés have won eight and seven matches have ended in draws.

However, Alavés won the most recent meeting 1-0 in May 2026.

Barcelona will be keen to avoid another setback against the Basque side.

Tactical Analysis

Barcelona are expected to dominate possession and press high up the pitch. Their attacking players will look to create chances through quick passing combinations and wide play.

Alavés may adopt a compact defensive structure and attempt to frustrate Barcelona before exploiting spaces on the counterattack.

Barcelona's defensive injuries could provide an opportunity for Alavés to create chances, particularly through quick transitions and set pieces.

The key battle will be whether Barcelona can break down Alavés' defensive organisation while avoiding mistakes at the back.

Match Prediction

Barcelona have the advantage of playing at home and possess significantly greater attacking quality. However, their recent defeats and defensive injuries could make this a challenging match.

Alavés may cause problems, but Barcelona should have enough quality to secure the points.

Prediction: Barcelona 3-1 Alavés

Conclusion

Barcelona will be eager to respond after their recent defeats and maintain their position at the top of La Liga.

Alavés have the potential to make the contest difficult, but Barcelona's attacking quality and home advantage make them favourites.

A victory would provide a much-needed boost ahead of their upcoming fixtures against Aston Villa and Atlético Madrid.

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