Deportivo Alavés enter 2026/27 with greater stability than they had for much of last season. Quique Sánchez Flores took over during the previous campaign and secured La Liga survival. He has now had a full summer to shape the squad around a more organised, direct approach built on defensive discipline, quick transitions and two-striker combinations.
The early results have been encouraging. Alavés beat Getafe 3-0, drew 1-1 away to Rayo Vallecano and then defeated Villarreal 1-0. The squad has also been refreshed without undergoing a complete rebuild. Ville Koski and Nicolás Valentini strengthen central defence, while Mikel Rodríguez and Miguel Rodríguez increase the attacking and midfield options.
Alavés do not need Champions League-level depth. Their real question is simpler: can they survive ordinary injuries and poor form without the quality of the team dropping sharply?
Alavés’ 2026/27 Squad at a Glance
The main senior options include:
Goalkeepers: Antonio Sivera, Adrián Rodríguez, Greg Swiderski
Defensive options: Nahuel Tenaglia, Jonny Otto, Ville Koski, Nicolás Valentini, Youssef, with younger players also available
Central midfield: Antonio Blanco, Ander Guevara, Pablo Ibáñez, Carlos Protesoni, Denis Suárez
Creative/wide options: Carles Aleñá, Abde Rebbach, Ángel Pérez, Mikel Rodríguez, Miguel Rodríguez, Hugo Novoa
Centre-forward: Lucas Boyé, Toni Martínez, Mariano Díaz, with Mañas pushing into the senior group
The transfer window remains open until September 1, so further movement is still possible.
Goalkeeper Depth
Antonio Sivera is the undisputed first-choice goalkeeper. He has become one of Alavés’ most reliable players and has started the season strongly, including an important clean sheet against Villarreal.
The departure of Jesús Owono means Adrián Rodríguez is now the main senior backup, with Swiderski providing another option from the wider squad.
This is enough for a club whose main objective is domestic stability, but the hierarchy is obvious. An extended Sivera absence would create significantly more uncertainty than losing a starter in some other positions.
Depth Assessment: Adequate
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Defensive Depth Has Improved
Central defence was one of the areas Alavés needed to strengthen, and the summer recruitment reflects that. Koski has moved permanently after previously being involved with the club and has already established himself in Quique’s starting structure. His physical presence has helped Alavés defend the penalty area effectively during the opening weeks.
Valentini adds another natural centre-back and provides useful competition rather than forcing Quique to rely on full-backs playing centrally. Tenaglia remains extremely valuable because he can defend centrally or operate from the right, while Jonny’s experience allows him to cover different defensive roles.
Alavés have already used both three- and five-defender structures this season, making that versatility particularly useful. The group should become deeper later in the year when Facundo Garcés becomes available again following his suspension. For now, there are enough credible options to manage one defensive absence without dramatically reshaping the team.
Depth Assessment: Strong
Midfield Depth
Antonio Blanco remains the most important midfielder in the squad. His positioning, ball recovery, and ability to connect defence with the attacking players give Alavés balance. The club has other central midfielders, but none completely reproduces his role.
Pablo Ibáñez provides energy and physical presence, while Ander Guevara offers another reliable central option. Carlos Protesoni brings defensive intensity, and Denis Suárez gives Quique more technical quality when Alavés need to retain possession rather than simply attack quickly after turnovers.
That is a useful mix for a team that will face very different types of La Liga matches. Against stronger opponents, Alavés can prioritise structure and ball-winning. Against teams that defend deeper, Denis or Aleñá can provide greater creativity.
Depth Assessment: Strong
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More Options Behind the Strikers
The arrivals of Mikel Rodríguez and Miguel Rodríguez have improved one of the more interesting parts of the squad. Both can contribute from wide areas or behind the forwards, giving Quique alternatives to Abde Rebbach and Carles Aleñá.
Rebbach remains a useful direct threat, while Aleñá provides greater technical control between the lines. Ángel Pérez has also played an important role early in the season, contributing both defensively and in attacking transitions.
Alavés therefore have enough players to alter the supporting cast without always changing their basic approach. The concern is proven production. Several options can create promising situations, but Alavés still need enough goals and assists from this group to prevent the forwards from carrying most of the attacking burden.
Depth Assessment: Adequate to Strong
Centre-Forward Is a Genuine Strength
Lucas Boyé and Toni Martínez give Alavés a strong first-choice pairing. Boyé is particularly useful because he does more than finish chances. He can receive direct passes, hold off defenders and connect midfield runners with the attack.
Martínez provides another penalty-box threat and scored 14 La Liga goals last season, making him one of the squad’s most important sources of goals. Mariano Díaz gives Quique an experienced alternative. He has already contributed from the bench this season, including scoring against Getafe and equalising at Rayo.
Mañas is also moving closer to first-team involvement. The concern following the Villarreal match is Martínez’s fitness after he was forced off. Until the severity is clearer, Alavés still have enough cover through Boyé and Mariano, but losing Martínez for an extended spell would reduce one of their strongest partnerships.
Depth Assessment: Strong
Where Alavés Are Strongest
The centre-forward department stands out. Boyé and Martínez complement each other well, while Mariano gives Quique an experienced alternative rather than an emergency replacement.
Central defence has also improved considerably through Koski and Valentini. Midfield is another area where the squad has enough different profiles to adapt without becoming overcrowded. These three areas give Alavés a solid spine.
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Where the Squad Could Be Exposed
The goalkeeper position has a clear drop-off behind Sivera. Alavés also remain dependent on Antonio Blanco for midfield balance. Guevara, Ibáñez and Protesoni provide alternatives, but replacing Blanco’s complete defensive role would probably require a tactical adjustment.
The attacking midfield and wide positions contain useful options without an obvious elite creator. That means chance creation may sometimes depend heavily on collective movement, direct transitions and the work of the two forwards. There is depth, but not unlimited individual match-winning quality.
Why Versatility Matters for Alavés
Quique has already switched between a back three and structures closer to a conventional 4-4-2. That makes players such as Tenaglia and Jonny especially useful because they can perform more than one defensive role.
The same applies further forward. Aleñá, Rebbach and the two Rodríguez signings give Alavés several ways to organise the areas behind the strikers without needing a completely different system.
For a squad without the financial resources of La Liga’s biggest clubs, this kind of genuine versatility can be more valuable than simply carrying extra specialists.
Fixture Load Should Help
Alavés have no European football. Their main workload consists of 38 La Liga matches and the Copa del Rey, meaning Quique should normally have enough recovery and preparation time between league fixtures. That reduces the need for an oversized squad.
Rotation will still matter during injuries, suspensions and Copa matches, but Alavés do not need two completely separate starting XIs. The current squad is therefore better judged on whether it covers key roles than on total player numbers.
Overall Squad Depth Assessment
Overall Assessment: Good, Well-Balanced Depth
Alavés appear better equipped than they were entering last season. The defence has been reinforced, midfield contains several complementary options, and the forward department has a clear hierarchy without being overly dependent on only one striker.
There are still important players who would be difficult to replace—particularly Sivera, Blanco and the Boyé-Martínez partnership—but there is no glaring positional crisis. For a team whose priority remains securing another season in La Liga, that represents a sensible squad.
Conclusion
Deportivo Alavés’ 2026/27 squad is built around balance rather than star power. Ville Koski and Nicolás Valentini improve the defensive options, Mikel and Miguel Rodríguez increase competition behind the forwards, and the established core of Antonio Sivera, Antonio Blanco, Lucas Boyé and Toni Martínez gives Quique Sánchez Flores a dependable spine.
Centre-forward and central defence look strongest, while goalkeeper and creative output are the areas where losing a key player could have a bigger effect.
The encouraging early results suggest Alavés have enough depth to avoid relying on the same XI every week. For their domestic-only schedule, the squad looks capable of supporting another competitive La Liga season without unnecessary excess.