Alaves and Athletic Bilbao Clash with Season on the Line at Mendizorrotza

Key facts

• Alaves are 16th in La Liga, two points above 18th-placed Sevilla.
• Athletic Bilbao are 10th, three points behind sixth-placed Getafe.
• Alaves have 36 points from 33 matches (9 wins, 9 draws, 15 losses).
• Athletic have 41 points from 33 matches (12 wins, 5 draws, 16 losses).
• Alaves have a home record of 24 points from 16 matches, losing only four.
• Athletic have lost five of their last seven league matches.
• The match kicks off at 12:30 PM EST on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Mendizorrotza Stadium.
• Alaves are without Lucas Boye due to a hamstring injury; Carlos Protesoni is a doubt.

A Season-Defining Basque Derby

Two Basque clubs with contrasting objectives meet at Mendizorrotza Stadium on Saturday, as Deportivo Alavés host Athletic Bilbao in a La Liga fixture that carries heavy implications for both sides. Alavés, sitting 16th, are desperate to secure their top-flight status, while Athletic, languishing in 10th, still harbour hopes of qualifying for European competition. The match, scheduled for 12:30 PM EST on May 2, 2026, brings together rivals separated by just five points in the table but by vastly different expectations. Alavés have won only nine of their 33 league games this season, while Athletic have recorded 12 victories but also 16 defeats, reflecting a campaign that has fallen short of the club's ambitions.

Alavés Fight for Survival

Quique Sánchez Flores' side enter the weekend two points clear of the relegation zone, having taken a crucial 2-1 victory over fellow strugglers Mallorca in their last outing. That result lifted them to 16th, but with Sevilla lurking just behind, the margin for error is razor-thin. Alavés have lost only one of their last six matches, suggesting a timely upturn in form. Their home record has been a relative strength: they have collected 24 points from 16 fixtures at Mendizorrotza, suffering just four defeats. However, their overall goal difference stands at minus 11, with 38 goals scored and 49 conceded.

Athletic Bilbao Seek to Salvage European Hopes

For Athletic Bilbao, the season has been a disappointment. After finishing fourth last term and qualifying for the Champions League, Ernesto Valverde's side have managed only 41 points from 33 games, leaving them 10th. They are three points adrift of sixth-placed Getafe, which would secure a spot in the Conference League — the most realistic European target given the gap to the Champions League and Europa League places. Athletic have lost five of their last seven league matches, including a 3-2 defeat to Atlético Madrid on April 25. Their away form against Alavés offers some comfort: they are unbeaten at Mendizorrotza since October 2020, though the corresponding fixture last season ended 1-1.

Key Players and Team News

Alavés will be without forward Lucas Boyé due to a hamstring injury, while midfielder Carlos Protesoni faces a late fitness test. Antonio Sivera is expected to start in goal; he has a save percentage of 68.2% over his career and has kept 23 clean sheets in 110 starts. Up front, Toni Martínez has been a focal point, scoring 49 goals in his career at a rate of 0.42 per 90 minutes. For Athletic, Unai Simón will guard the net. The goalkeeper boasts a career save percentage of 70.0% and 74 shutouts in 233 starts. Gorka Guruzeta leads the attack, with 56 goals in 174 starts, averaging 0.35 goals per 90 minutes. The Lions have scored 36 goals this season but conceded 48, with a goal difference of minus 12.

Historical Context and Stakes

The Basque derby has historically favoured Athletic, who have won more than half of the 52 meetings in all competitions. Alavés have managed only nine victories, though one came in the reverse fixture at San Mamés earlier this season. Athletic's recent dominance on the road in this fixture adds another layer of intrigue. Alavés face a daunting run-in that includes matches against Elche, Barcelona, Real Oviedo, and Rayo Vallecano. Every point is precious as they seek to avoid relegation. Athletic, meanwhile, must close a three-point gap to Getafe with five games remaining, a task made more urgent by their poor recent form.

What the Numbers Reveal

Statistical analysis underscores the fine margins separating the teams. Alavés average 1.09 points per match and have an expected goals (xG) total of 18.9, with an expected goals against (xGA) of 19.6. They have recorded three clean sheets this season, a rate of 9.1%, and have amassed 80 yellow cards and five red cards. Athletic average 1.2 points per match, with an xG of 20.2 and 23 assists. They have kept six clean sheets (18.2%) and collected 72 yellow cards and seven red cards. Their save percentage of 63.6% is slightly higher than Alavés' 62.9%, but both teams have struggled defensively, conceding 49 and 48 goals respectively.

Outlook and Implications

Saturday's match is more than a local rivalry; it is a crossroads for both clubs. A win for Alavés could lift them further from danger and build momentum for the final stretch, while a defeat would drag them back into the relegation mire. For Athletic, victory would keep alive their faint European hopes and provide a much-needed morale boost after a string of losses. The betting markets favour Athletic, with odds of minus 132 compared to Alavés' plus 110, and an over/under of three goals. But form and desperation make Alavés a dangerous opponent. As the season enters its decisive phase, the outcome at Mendizorrotza could reverberate well beyond the Basque Country.

The bottom line

• Alavés are 16th, two points above the relegation zone, and face a tough run-in including Barcelona.
• Athletic Bilbao are 10th, three points off a Conference League spot, but have lost five of their last seven.
• Alavés have a strong home record with 24 points from 16 matches at Mendizorrotza.
• Athletic are unbeaten away to Alavés since October 2020, but the reverse fixture this season ended in a 1-1 draw.
• Both teams have negative goal differences: Alavés at -11, Athletic at -12.
• Key injuries: Alavés' Lucas Boyé is out; Carlos Protesoni is a doubt.