Atlético Madrid travel to face Deportivo Alavés this Saturday aiming to solidify their hold on second place in the table. Diego Simeone's side goes into the eighth La Liga matchday with 16 points from seven games, sitting five points behind leaders Barcelona.
A run of three consecutive league victories, including the win over Real Madrid, has restored confidence to the red-and-white dressing room. However, the memory of a 2-0 defeat on their last visit to Mendizorrotza in April 2024 serves as a warning. Alavés, who are sixth, arrive without a win in their last two matches.
Form context
The Colchoneros have strung together wins against Real Sociedad, Osasuna and Real Madrid, scoring nine goals and conceding just one. Álex Baena, with four goals in seven appearances, is the team's top scorer this season. Meanwhile, Alavés are coming off a goalless draw with Athletic Club and a loss to Valencia.
The historical record between the two sides tends to feature tight matches, with 13 of the last 20 league meetings ending with fewer than 2.5 goals. Atlético won the most recent encounter last January, 1-0 at the Metropolitano.
The match will be played at the Estadio Mendizorrotza in Vitoria at 16:15 local time. This fixture concludes an international break for Atlético before they resume their title challenge.
