Alavés Faces Crucial Challenge Amidst Declining Performance

Deportivo Alavés competed valiantly and remained in the fight until the end, but their unfortunate streak of earning only 4 points out of a possible 27 places them in a precarious position, marking their first time this season in the relegation zone. Their recent visit to the Metropolitano resulted in a defeat, which, while anticipated, adds to the sense of despair as each loss feels like a significant blow, despite glimpses of improvement in their gameplay at times.

The victories of Mallorca and Valencia have thrust Alavés into unfamiliar territory before their match at the Metropolitano, and the narrow loss in the capital ensures they will spend at least another week among the bottom three teams in La Liga. The schedule has presented them with two particularly challenging away games against Villarreal and Atlético, and Eduardo Coudet’s team has been unable to secure any points. The two points lost in their first match of 2026 against Oviedo continue to weigh heavily on the team’s morale.

For a team that began the season with the aim of survival, being in the relegation zone at this stage should not be deemed catastrophic. However, it is worth noting that during the initial months of the competition, Alavés managed to avoid the lower reaches of the table and even established themselves in mid-table. Unfortunately, a lackluster finish to 2025 and a discouraging start to 2026 have plunged them into a harsh reality that they must escape swiftly.

The upcoming match this Sunday at Mendizorroza against Betis is set to be a decisive moment for Alavés and for coach Coudet. The Argentine may be encountering numerous challenges, and additional signings could help address the shortage of players in certain positions. However, it is important to acknowledge that the Vitoria club is not known for its patience with coaches, and the team’s troubling performance has placed Coudet’s position in jeopardy.