Deportivo Alaves welcome newly crowned La Liga champions Barcelona to Mendizorrotza on Wednesday, 13 May 2026, for a Matchday 36 fixture carrying very different stakes for the two clubs. Barcelona secured their 29th Spanish league title with a 2-0 El Clásico victory over Real Madrid on Sunday, moving to 91 points and opening an unassailable 14-point lead with three matches remaining.
For Alaves, the situation could hardly be more urgent. They entered the week with 37 points in the relegation zone, and Levante's 3-2 victory away to Celta Vigo on Tuesday pushed the Basque club further down the standings. Alaves therefore go into Wednesday's match needing points to improve their survival chances in one of the tightest La Liga relegation battles in recent years.
Barcelona no longer need the result to win the title, but Hansi Flick's side still have something to chase. Three victories from their remaining three fixtures would take them to 100 points, a mark previously reached in La Liga by Real Madrid in 2011/12 and Barcelona under Tito Vilanova in 2012/13.
Deportivo Alaves vs Barcelona Head-to-Head Summary
Barcelona have dominated this matchup for years. Before Wednesday's game, the clubs had met 50 times in all competitions, with Barcelona winning 36, Alaves winning seven and seven matches ending in draws.
The recent record is even more one-sided. Barcelona have won each of the last six meetings, while Alaves have not beaten the Catalan club since their famous 2-1 victory at Camp Nou in September 2016. Alaves' last home league win over Barcelona came even further back, in December 2001.
Across the last 10 league meetings before this match, the record stands at:
Barcelona wins: 8
Deportivo Alavés wins: 0
Draws: 2
Barcelona goals: 25
Deportivo Alaves goals: 6
Total goals: 31
Average goals per match: 3.1
That means the 32-goal total in the previous version of this article was incorrect. Barcelona have scored 25 times across those 10 matches, while Alaves have managed six.
Deportivo Alavés vs Barcelona Last 10 Matches
The last 10 La Liga meetings before Wednesday's fixture are:
29 November 2025: Barcelona 3-1 Deportivo Alaves
2 February 2025: Barcelona 1-0 Deportivo Alaves
6 October 2024: Deportivo Alaves 0-3 Barcelona
3 February 2024: Deportivo Alaves 1-3 Barcelona
12 November 2023: Barcelona 2-1 Deportivo Alaves
23 January 2022: Deportivo Alaves 0-1 Barcelona
30 October 2021: Barcelona 1-1 Deportivo Alaves
13 February 2021: Barcelona 5-1 Deportivo Alaves
31 October 2020: Deportivo Alaves 1-1 Barcelona
19 July 2020: Deportivo Alaves 0-5 Barcelona
These results give Barcelona eight victories and two draws, with Alaves failing to win any of the last 10 meetings. The reverse fixture this season ended in a 3-1 Barcelona victory at Camp Nou on 29 November 2025. Alaves stunned the hosts by taking the lead inside the opening minute through Pablo Ibanez, but Barcelona responded quickly. Lamine Yamal equalised before Dani Olmo scored twice to complete the comeback.
Deportivo Alaves Current Form
Alaves arrive under considerable pressure, but their recent results have shown some improvement since Quique Sánchez Flores took charge in early March. They have lost only two of their last seven league matches and have collected valuable victories against Celta Vigo and Mallorca. Their last six La Liga results read D-D-L-W-L-D.
Their most recent match was a 1-1 draw away to Elche on 9 May. Before that, they suffered a damaging 4-2 home defeat against Athletic Club despite twice taking the lead. Antonio Blanco opened the scoring early, and Nahuel Tenaglia later restored Alaves' advantage, but Athletic responded strongly in the second half to leave Mendizorrotza with all three points.
Alaves had collected 24 points from 17 home league matches before this fixture, only the 14th-best home record in the division. Mendizorrotza can still provide an intense atmosphere, particularly with survival on the line, but their results show that home advantage alone has not been enough to keep them clear of danger.
The encouraging part for Alaves is how congested the bottom half remains. Several teams are separated by only a few points, meaning a single victory could dramatically improve their position. That makes facing Barcelona extremely difficult, but the situation is far from hopeless.
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Barcelona Current Form
Barcelona travel to Vitoria in outstanding domestic form and with the pressure of the title race finally removed. Flick's side clinched the championship by beating Real Madrid 2-0 at Camp Nou on 10 May. Marcus Rashford opened the scoring with a superb free kick in the ninth minute before Ferran Torres doubled the advantage nine minutes later, giving Barcelona the victory they needed to mathematically secure the title.
The champions have now won 11 consecutive league matches and have scored 91 goals in 35 La Liga fixtures, comfortably the strongest attacking return in the competition. Barcelona had lost only four league matches all season when the title was confirmed.
Their away record is another reason Alaves face such a difficult challenge. Barcelona have collected 37 points from 17 away league matches, the best away record in La Liga heading into this fixture. There is naturally a question over Barcelona's intensity now that the championship has been secured. However, reaching 100 points gives Flick's players another target, while several members of the squad also have individual objectives to pursue during the final three matches.
Home and Away Analysis
The respective home and away records underline the size of Alaves' task. The hosts have taken 24 points from their 17 matches at Mendizorrotza and were beaten 4-2 by Athletic Club in their latest home outing. Defensive inconsistency has repeatedly hurt them during their battle for survival.
Barcelona, by contrast, have collected 37 points from 17 away league games. Flick's side have been able to carry their possession-based football and attacking threat into matches away from Camp Nou, making them the strongest travelling team in the league this season.
Alaves will hope Barcelona's title celebrations and possible squad rotation narrow that gap. If the hosts can remain level deep into the match, the greater urgency surrounding their survival fight could make the contest increasingly uncomfortable for the champions.
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Tactical Matchup and Style of Play
Under Sanchez Flores, Alaves are likely to prioritise organisation, physical intensity and quick transitions. Facing Barcelona with an open defensive structure would carry enormous risk, so the hosts are expected to protect central areas, compete aggressively for second balls and look for opportunities to attack quickly when possession changes hands.
Antonio Blanco will be particularly important in midfield. Alaves are unlikely to dominate possession, meaning they will need to make good decisions whenever Barcelona lose the ball. Set pieces and wide deliveries could also provide the hosts with one of their best routes towards goal.
Barcelona will continue to rely on Flick's aggressive high defensive line and possession-oriented approach. The system is designed to recover possession quickly, keep opponents pinned inside their own half and create repeated opportunities through movement between the lines.
The rewards of that approach are clear from Barcelona's 91 league goals, although the high line can leave space behind the defence if opponents manage to escape the initial press. Reuters noted after Barcelona secured the title that their aggressive defensive positioning had occasionally left them vulnerable to counterattacks despite their outstanding attacking numbers.
Alaves are therefore unlikely to benefit from trying to match Barcelona possession for possession. Their better opportunity may come from staying compact and attacking the available space quickly whenever they force a turnover.
Robert Lewandowski is particularly dangerous if selected. The Polish forward has scored seven goals in his previous five appearances against Alaves, giving the home defence another major problem to solve.
Deportivo Alaves Team Injuries and News
Alaves have several important selection concerns before Wednesday's match. Lucas Boye remains unavailable because of a muscle injury, while defender Facundo Garces is suspended. Toni Martinez and Jon Guridi also require fitness checks after both players were forced off during the 1-1 draw with Elche.
Martinez's availability would be particularly important. The striker has scored seven goals in his last seven La Liga appearances and has become one of Alaves' most important attacking players during their fight to remain in the division.
There is better news surrounding Carles Alena, who is available again following suspension. Denis Suarez, another former Barcelona player, also provides Sanchez Flores with an alternative in midfield.
Barcelona Team Injuries and News
Barcelona will definitely be without Lamine Yamal. The 18-year-old suffered a hamstring injury in his left leg during April's victory over Celta Vigo and has been ruled out for the remainder of the club season. Yamal had scored 16 La Liga goals before the injury and was leading Barcelona's league scoring chart at the time.
Raphinha will also miss the trip to Vitoria, although his absence is due to suspension rather than injury. The Brazilian collected the yellow card that triggered his ban during the Clasico victory over Real Madrid.
Andreas Christensen has returned to training after his serious knee injury, raising hopes that the Danish defender could feature again before the season ends.
With the championship already secured, Flick is expected to consider changes from the side that started El Clásico. Robert Lewandowski, Ronald Araujo, Alejandro Balde and Frenkie de Jong are among the players who could be brought into the lineup, while the remaining fixtures may also provide opportunities for less-used members of the squad.
Players to Watch
For Alaves, Toni Martinez will be the main player to monitor if he passes his fitness test. Seven goals in his last seven league appearances show just how important his finishing has become at the most critical point of the season.
Antonio Blanco will also have an important role because Alaves need discipline in midfield and accurate forward passes whenever they regain possession. For Barcelona, Lewandowski's record against this opponent stands out immediately. Seven goals across his previous five appearances against Alaves make him a major threat if Flick restores him to the starting lineup.
Ferran Torres also has individual motivation during the closing weeks of the campaign. Barcelona's official preview of their remaining objectives highlighted his pursuit of the Zarra Trophy for the highest-scoring Spanish player in La Liga. With Yamal unable to add to his total, Torres has an opportunity to strengthen his claim.
Deportivo Alaves vs Barcelona: Who is the Favourite to Win?
Barcelona are the clear favourites based on squad quality, recent form and the history of this fixture. They have won 11 consecutive league matches, own La Liga's strongest away record and have beaten Alaves in each of their previous six meetings.
This match could still be more complicated than those numbers suggest. Alaves are fighting for their top-flight future, while Barcelona have already achieved their main objective. Sanchez Flores' players should therefore have the greater sense of urgency, particularly in front of their home supporters.
Squad rotation could also make Barcelona less fluid than usual. With Yamal injured and Raphinha suspended, Flick will already be without two important attacking players and could give other regular starters a rest.
Even with those factors, Barcelona's squad depth should give them the edge. Alaves have shown greater resilience in recent weeks, but their defensive vulnerability combined with Barcelona's attacking quality makes the champions difficult to oppose.