Athletic Club, fourth classified in LaLiga EA Sports, visits Deportivo Alavés this Sunday with the aim of establishing itself in the 'Champions' positions (4:15 p.m.), in a seventeenth day in which Villarreal seeks to defend its fifth place against Real Betis (6:30 p.m.), which a Real Sociedad aspires to host UD Las Palmas (6:30 p.m.).
In Mendizorrotza, Ernesto Valverde's men want to confirm their good form, which has allowed them to go twelve games without defeat, since they lost to Girona on October 6. In the Europa League, on Wednesday they settled at the top of the standings, beating Fenerbahçe (0-2), and in LaLiga they have four consecutive victories against Real Sociedad (1-0), Rayo Vallecano (1-2), Real Madrid (2-1) and Villarreal (2-0).
Thus, the team accumulates 32 points, six more than the Castellón team (26) and eight more than the first two contenders to get into Europe, Osasuna and RCD Mallorca (24). Atlético de Madrid's third place is three units away.
Now, he will look for a new victory in a Basque derby against a Deportivo Alavés that wants to redirect its path with the help of 'Chacho' Coudet. Their last two draws in the domestic competition against Leganés (1-1) and Osasuna (2-2) still leave them out of the relegation positions, two points below their 15th.
Even so, the babazorro team needs to add to avoid being involved in problems, and will try to do so without the injured Carlos Benavídez, the only absence for the Argentine coach. Ander Herrera will be a safe casualty for the 'lions', who will finally be able to count on both Yeray Álvarez and Nico Williams.
Meanwhile, Villarreal and Real Betis hope to end their league streaks without a win, which extend for three and five games, respectively, at the Estadio de la Cerámica. Marcelino García Toral's team, which has one game less, has already gone four games without knowing victory.
After draws against Osasuna (2-2) and Girona (2-2), the 'Yellow Submarine' was surprised in the Copa del Rey by Pontevedra (1-0) and later also lost in the league championship against Athletic Club (2-0).
The green and white, meanwhile, have only won two of their last seven games in all competitions, in the Cup against Sant Andreu (1-3) and this week in the Conference League against Petrocub (0-1). In LaLiga, they have added two of the last 12 points at stake.
Once again, the Castellón team will regret the losses of Ilias Akhomach, Nicolas Pépé, Juan Foyth and Alfonso Pedraza, to which have been added those of the injured Diego Conde and Logan Costa and the suspended Santi Comesaña. The Betis, who recovered Isco last week, will not be able to count on Marc Roca, William Carvalho, Héctor Bellerín, Nobel Mendy, Rui Silva and Pablo Fornals.
At the Reale Arena, Real Sociedad and Las Palmas, two teams that have regained their grip on the competition, will compete with different objectives: staying in continental positions for the San Sebastian team and getting as far away from the relegation zone as possible, for the grancanarios.
With 24 units, the same ones that leave Osasuna and Mallorca out of Europe, the 'txuri urdin' team, which has sealed five victories in its last five games in all competitions – in which it has not conceded a goal and has scored 11 -, is two away from fifth position and eight from the 'Champions', all after beating Real Betis (2-0) and Leganés (0-3).
For its part, the Canarian team has experienced a notable improvement since the arrival of Diego Martínez to the bench, winning three of its last four LaLiga games, including against FC Barcelona (1-2). Now, they are fourteenth with 18 units, five more than the first of the teams in danger.
Arsen Zakharyan, Hamari Traoré, Aihen Muñoz, Aritz Elustondo and Jon Pacheco will surely miss the duel for the Gipuzkoans. With the losses of Viti Rozada and Adnan Januzaj, the yellow team will join those of the suspended Alex Suárez and Fábio Silva, who must complete the cycle.
–SUNDAY PROGRAM AT LALIGA EA SPORTS.
Atlético de Madrid – Getafe. Soto Grado (C.Riojano) 14.00.
Alavés – Athletic. Sánchez Martínez (C.Murciano) 16.15.
Villarreal – Betis. Cuadra Fernández (C.Balearic) 18.30.
Real Sociedad – Las Palmas. Melero López (C.Andaluz) 18.30.
FC Barcelona – Leganés. Quintero González (C.Andaluz) 21.00.
