Monday night football in La Liga rarely fails to deliver drama, and this weeks clash between Deportivo Alave9s and Girona at the Mendizorroza Stadium is no exception. Both clubs find themselves embroiled in a tense relegation battle, with every point crucial as the 2025/26 season approaches its final stretch. The stakes are high: Alave9s, currently 15th with 26 points from 24 rounds, host a Girona side sitting just two places above them in 13th on 29 points. A mere three-point gap separates the two, and with the relegation zone looming, neither team can afford to slip up.
For Alave9s, the campaign has been a rollercoaster. They19ve lost half of their league fixtures so far, and though they managed a morale-boosting 2-1 win at Espanyol at the end of January, their form since has been less than convincing. One point from two matches against Getafe and Sevilla, including a 1-1 draw at the Ramf3n Se1nchez-Pizjue1n where they held a numerical advantage for over 70 minutes, left fans frustrated. Manager Eduardo cChachod4 Coudet has had to make the most of limited resources, and the winter departure of winger Carlos Vicente, who joined Birmingham City, has left a creative void. Vicente was the only player besides strikers Toni Martednez and Lucas Boye9 to have scored more than once for the Babazorros this season.
Alave9s typically line up in a 4-4-2, with Martednez and Boye9 forming a physically imposing partnership up front. Both have netted five goals in La Liga thus far, providing the main threat for a side that has struggled to find the net consistently. The club19s defensive solidity at home is notablethey19ve conceded just three first-half goals at Mendizorroza all seasonbut their attacking output remains a concern, especially after the loss of Vicente. The hosts will be without January signing Ville Koski due to injury, though Jonny Otto is set to return at left-back and Pablo Ibe1f1ez is pushing for a recall in midfield.
Girona, meanwhile, arrive in Vitoria-Gasteiz buoyed by a sensational 2-1 comeback win over Barcelona just a week ago. Fran Beltre1n, a January arrival from Celta Vigo, was the hero, scoring a coolly taken winner in the 86th minute. That victory was a much-needed boost after a patchy run of form, which saw Medchel19s side collect only two points from three games against Getafe, Oviedo, and Sevilla following a strong start to 2026. Despite having just 29% possession against Barcelona, Girona created 2.86 expected goals and five big chances, peppering the target nine times in a display of clinical attacking football.
This Monday, Girona will have to adapt to a different challenge. As part of the City Football Group, they have invested wisely, bringing in not only Beltre1n but also goalkeeper Marc-Andre9 ter Stegen and midfielder Claudio Echeverri in the January window. However, their squad is stretched thin by injuries: Portu, Ter Stegen, Donny van de Beek, and c1lex Moreno are all sidelined, while Azzedine Ounahi is only expected to feature off the bench following a lengthy layoff. The likely starting XI for Girona features Paulo Gazzaniga in goal, with a backline of Rincf3n, Reis, Blind, and Martednez, and Vladyslav Vanat14the club19s top scorer with seven goals14leading the line in a 4-5-1 formation.
Recent head-to-head meetings between these two sides suggest another tight affair is on the cards. The last three encounters have ended 1-0, with Girona taking the spoils in their most recent match-up in November 2025. Alave9s have failed to win in their last three home fixtures against the Blanquivermells, and four of the last six meetings have gone Girona19s way. The statistics paint a picture of two teams who tend to play it safe: both rank in the bottom five for goals scored in La Liga this term, and only one of Girona19s away games has produced more than three goals. Alave9s19 matches are averaging just 2.13 goals per 90 minutes, reinforcing the expectation of a low-scoring contest.
Betting markets reflect the fine margins at play. Alave9s are slight favorites at 13/10, with the draw priced at 2/1 and Girona at 12/5 to build on last week19s triumph. Both teams to score is offered at even money, while odds on under 3.5 goals and a draw or Girona result are also attracting attention. Boye9 is the 10/3 favorite to score first for the hosts, while Vanat is Girona19s most likely source of a breakthrough at 9/2 to open the scoring.
Both managers are expected to stick largely with their tried-and-tested formulas. Coudet19s preference for a 4-4-2 could see Martednez and Boye9 once again tasked with leading the line, supported by a midfield that will need to compensate for the absence of Vicente19s creativity. For Girona, Medchel may reward Beltre1n with a start after his heroics against Barcelona, potentially at the expense of either Axel Witsel or Ive1n Martedn. The visitors19 technical quality in midfield, with experienced campaigners like Daley Blind and Viktor Tsygankov, could prove decisive in controlling the tempo.
Fans in Spain and abroad can catch the action live on Disney+ and ESPN 4, while digital platforms such as Sofascore and Flashscore will provide real-time statistics, including possession, shots, and duels won. The Mendizorroza faithful will be hoping their side can capitalize on home advantage, as Alave9s have scored the majority of their goals in front of their own supporters this season.
As both teams prepare for a tactical battle with survival implications, the narrative is clear: Alave9s need to rediscover their scoring touch and tighten up defensively, while Girona must overcome injury woes and maintain the momentum from their statement win over Barcelona. With both clubs desperate for points, and recent history favoring cagey encounters, expect a match defined by fine margins and possibly decided by a single moment of inspiration.
With so much on the line, all eyes will be on Mendizorroza as these relegation-threatened sides fight for a vital boost in their quest for La Liga safety. The tension is palpable, and as the teams take to the pitch, the stage is set for another chapter in their closely contested rivalry.