A Tactical Tussle Awaits in La Liga: Villarreal vs. Alaves
When Villarreal hosts Alaves on January 10, 2026, at Estadio de la Ceramica, we're not just witnessing a clash of jerseys but a showdown between ambition and survival. Villarreal, perched comfortably in third with 38 points from 17 matches, is eyeing the summit of La Liga. In stark contrast, Alaves sits precariously at 13th with just 19 points after 18 outings, desperate for points to steer clear of relegation waters. So let's cut to the chase: can the Yellow Submarine continue their quest for glory against a side clinging on for dear life?
Predicted Lineups: Villarreal: GK: Luiz Júnior, DEF: Alfonso Pedraza, Rafa Marín, Pau Navarro, Santiago Mouriño; MID: Alberto Moleiro, Santi Comesaña, Nicolas Pépé; FWD: Georges Mikautadze, Ayoze Pérez. Alaves: GK: Antonio Sivera, DEF: Jonny Otto, Nahuel Tenaglia, Victor Parada; MID: Antonio Blanco, Carles Aleñá; FWD: Lucas Boyé.
Diving into recent form reveals that Villarreal has been oscillating between moments of brilliance and self-inflicted wounds. Their last five outings reflect an unsteady pulse: while they've triumphed against lower-tier opponents like Elche and Getafe with impressive scorelines (3-1 and 2-0), their setbacks have been punctuated by defeats against heavyweights such as Barcelona and FC Copenhagen. The reality check came hard against Barcelona in their last league encounter when they registered only 21% possession, akin to a deer caught in headlights-a reflection of tactical naivety or perhaps just bad luck.
On the flip side, Alaves seems trapped in a cycle where solid efforts yield no fruit. Their draw against Oviedo highlighted both resilience and missed opportunities-their xG of 1.50 suggests they were in the game yet left wanting. Their defensive structure under pressure has led to mixed results recently-dominating ball possession (57% against Oviedo) but faltering in converting that control into clear-cut chances.
Statistically speaking, Villarreal's strength lies in their ability to take shots on goal-their recent tally often eclipses that of their opponents (4 shots on target versus Elche's 2), although inconsistency remains a theme throughout this season as evidenced by their lowly conversion rate post-Copenhagen clash (only 1 goal from an xG of 1.94). This will be critical against Alaves's defense which is showing signs of struggle; they conceded three goals at Osasuna without managing any significant response.
Now let's pivot towards individual brilliance within each squad-key players whose performances may very well swing this match one way or the other. For Villarreal, keep an eye on both Georges Mikautadze and Tajon Buchanan-they each found the back of the net multiple times over recent weeks (4 goals each), while Santi Comesaña has contributed significantly in midfield with two assists across competitions.
Conversely for Alaves? Lucas Boyé will be integral to anything resembling an attack; he bagged a vital equalizer against Oviedo and boasts a knack for being at the right place when opportunities present themselves-one has to wonder how many more critical moments he can create when thrust into action by his beleaguered side.
The upcoming tactical battle will primarily unfold through midfield corridors where both sides face contrasting strengths: Villarreal prides itself on ball retention amidst controlled chaos thanks largely to players like Alberto Moleiro (whose pass completion hovers around an impressive average) while Alaves needs to rely heavily on counterattacks orchestrated through quick transitions-notably from deeper positions-that exploit any lapses by Villarreal's backline.
Considering historical trends too-Villarreal holds dominance in past encounters with Alaves having taken victories more often than not-it stands as testament that familiarity can breed confidence even amidst tough patches in form.
So here comes my prediction: expect Villarreal to assert themselves early with relentless pressure turning defensive frailties into scoring chances akin to earlier fixtures this season-look for them capitalizing off set-pieces and exploiting gaps left behind by adventurous Alaves full-backs pushing upfield. Meanwhile however tightly contested it may seem initially for Alaves holding firm might only serve as temporary relief before eventually conceding late-on due to sheer weight of numbers from home attackers eager to snatch every point possible.
In summary? A final scoreline leaning towards either a close affair at 2-1 or perhaps even more lopsided should Villarreal find themselves firing-all hinges upon if Alaves can stymie momentum quickly or risk getting swept away entirely!