Deportivo Alavés will host Atlético de Madrid this afternoon at Mendizorroza, kicking off at 5:00 PM local time, with the aim of preserving the good vibes from their opening win over Levante and denting the confidence of a Atletico side that has yet to win this season.
Atlético, coached by Diego Simeone, spent a substantial sum this summer—around 200 million euros—in a bid to overhaul the squad and mount a title challenge across three competitions. But the early results have not matched those ambitions. In the season’s opening round, Atlético took the lead via Julián Álvarez in the visit to Espanyol, yet fell 2-1. In their second match, they led 1-0 against promoted Elche but had to settle for a 1-1 draw.
Those disappointing starts have intensified scrutiny of Simeone in Madrid. The urgency to secure a victory at Mendizorroza is high, and a positive result for Alavés could take advantage of the pressure bearing down on the visitors. It would also be a notable milestone for Atlético: failing to win any of their first three league games would be the first time since the 2009-10 campaign that the club did not secure a victory in their opening trio of matches.
This sets up a great opportunity for Alavés against one of La Liga’s traditional “big three.” Despite their slow start, Atlético still boast plenty of firepower. Top scorers Alexander Sørloth and Julián Álvarez loom as the main dangers for the home side, who will need to shut down the supply to those two forwards.
That plan will hinge on a compact, physical midfield, though Atlético’ s creative options have not been without issues. Barrios and Cardoso troubleshoot Atlético’s build-up, while opportunities to pin the feet of Giuliano Simeone and Thiago Almada will be key.
Alavés head coach Eduardo Coudet will have his squad almost fully available, with the exception of Lucas Boyé, who is sidelined with a knee sprain. Jon Pacheco is also listed for selection, though the Argentine coach indicated he will need time to settle in. Expect little change to the starting XI from the home win over Levante and the defeat at Betis; Mariano Díaz could earn a place ahead of Toni Martínez to offer a more physical focal point, while Youssef Enríquez could push for a starting berth at left-back.
Expect a near-capacity crowd at Mendizorroza, with club and Arabako Garrasia arranging a pre-match buffet and anthemic moment as players take the field. All the ingredients point to what should be a memorable Sunday afternoon of football in Vitoria.
Summary: A pressure-cooker clash where Alavés seek to capitalize on Atlético’s early-season jitters and maintain momentum, while Atlético aim to silence critics by collecting three points on the road to cement their title-chasing ambitions. A win for Alavés would be a significant lift; a win for Atlético would ease growing concerns about the project under Simeone.
Additional notes for publication:
– Consider adding a short sidebar on the tactical matchup and potential lineup changes as the match approaches.
– A brief note on the atmosphere and community events around Mendizorroza can engage local readers.
– If you have access to live updates or post-match quotes, they would nicely complement this preview with immediate context.