Alavés Struggles Continue After Defeat to Villarreal

Alavés was unable to secure a surprise victory at the Estadio de la Cerámica and continues to experience a downward spiral. With only 4 points earned out of a possible 24, the optimism felt a few months ago has shifted to concern. The Babazorros repeated the same narrative as seen in their matches against Barcelona and Real Madrid. They started the game well and delivered a commendable first half, but it wasn’t enough to trouble Villarreal, who asserted their dominance after halftime.

Arriving at the match against Villarreal under less than ideal circumstances, Alavés faced additional challenges beyond the tense atmosphere generated by recent events in the competition. The absence of key players compounded these issues, leaving coach Eduardo Coudet with only 16 first-team players at his disposal. Nonetheless, his team displayed a notable performance, registering 16 shots on Luiz Junior’s goal, yet they struggled with finishing.

While the loss was expected, the final score and the team’s dismal streak take a toll on morale. Alavés is in dire need of finding the turning point necessary to halt their decline. Coudet is well aware of the pressures faced by coaches in football, and his position is increasingly being called into question. However, he was justified in highlighting his team’s shortcomings. Alavés is facing a quantitative issue in several positions and is compelled to create excessive chances just to score.

In the initial months of the season, the Babazorros managed to establish themselves in mid-table due to their solid defense and ability to control matches. The current predicament is that opponents are now generating goal-scoring opportunities more easily, and the team has lost the consistency that once allowed them to secure victories with minimal goals. Coudet has significant work ahead, and with the transfer market open, he undoubtedly hopes for reinforcements to help avert relegation.