Basque derby in Vitoria-Gasteiz with points that carry weight
Deportivo Alavés and Athletic Bilbao enter Matchday 34 of the 2025/2026 LaLiga season with different pressure, but with the same need not to leave Saturday's match at Mendizorrotza only to the impression. According to current table views, Alavés is in the lower part of the standings, around 15th or 16th place, while Athletic is in the middle of the table, around 9th or 10th place, depending on the source and the moment of updating. That means every point still has value for the home side in the fight for a calmer finish, while for the visitors a win serves as an attempt to catch the upper half after a fluctuating run of results.
The match is scheduled for 02.05.2026 at 18:30 at the Mendizorrotza stadium in Vitoria-Gasteiz. It is a match that is not only locally colored, but also interesting in terms of results: Alavés defeated Mallorca 2-1 in the previous round, while Athletic Bilbao lost 3-2 away at Atlético Madrid. Tickets for this match are in demand among fans because it is an away trip that Athletic fans can make with a relatively short journey, while the home crowd usually fills the stands well in matches like this.
Form before the match: Alavés collects points, Athletic seeks stability
Alavés enters this match with a run in which, in its last six league appearances, it has recorded two wins, three draws and one defeat. That run includes a 2-1 home win against Mallorca, a 2-1 defeat away at Real Madrid, 3-3 away at Real Sociedad, 2-2 against Osasuna, 4-3 away at Celta Vigo and 1-1 against Villarreal. For Eduardo Coudet's team, this is an important detail: Alavés is not a team that closes itself off and waits for the end, but in the final rounds regularly enters matches with enough courage to score, yet also with the problem of conceding too often.
Athletic Bilbao has a different form curve. The last six league results brought wins against Osasuna and Betis, but also defeats to Atlético Madrid, Villarreal, Getafe and Girona. The latest 3-2 defeat away at Atlético Madrid hurts especially, because Athletic scored twice, through Paredes and Guruzeta, but did not withstand the hosts' pressure. Ernesto Valverde therefore comes to Vitoria-Gasteiz with a clear task: reduce empty defensive minutes and restore the rhythm of a team that has enough quality on the flanks, but oscillates from round to round.
- Alavés has recorded a W-L-D-D-W-D record in its last six league matches.
- Athletic Bilbao has recorded a L-W-L-L-W-L record in its last six league matches.
- In that run, Alavés scored against Mallorca, Real Madrid, Real Sociedad, Osasuna, Celta Vigo and Villarreal.
- Athletic lost 3-2 away at Atlético Madrid in the last round, but Paredes and Guruzeta confirmed that the team still has an attacking threat.
- Sports Mole lists Toni Martínez for Alavés and Gorka Guruzeta for Athletic as the top scorers ahead of the duel.
What is at stake for Deportivo Alavés
For Alavés, this is a match in which they are not playing only for three points, but also for peace in the final rounds. If the team is in the lower half of the standings, every home match against an opponent from the middle of the table becomes an opportunity that must not be missed lightly. The win against Mallorca gave them a good entry into the week, and Mendizorrotza should be a support on Saturday, especially because Alavés this season more often looks dangerous when the match opens up and when it can attack through transition.
The most important name in the home side's finishing phase is Toni Martínez. Sports Mole lists him as Alavés's top scorer ahead of the match, and the team has scored 37 league goals in total up to this round. That is not a figure that suggests an extremely attacking team, but it shows that Alavés has enough concrete solutions for matches in which the opponent leaves space. Against Athletic, it will be especially important how quickly the home side can move the ball from midfield toward attack and whether it will manage to force the visiting center-backs to turn toward their own goal.
Coudet's team has shown in recent matches that it does not fall apart after conceding a goal. The 3-3 draws away at Real Sociedad and 2-2 against Osasuna, as well as the 4-3 win away at Celta Vigo, point to matches with many changes of rhythm. That is good news for a fan going to the stands, but less pleasant for the coach. Against Athletic, Alavés will have to be more compact in the zone in front of its own penalty area, because the visitors have players who punish every delay in closing down on the flank.
What Athletic Bilbao must improve
Athletic Bilbao arrives with a clear attacking identity, but also with a results problem: four defeats in the last six league matches undermine confidence, even when the play has not always been poor. Ernesto Valverde's team has 36 league goals according to Sports Mole's match guide, and Gorka Guruzeta is listed as the top scorer. Alongside him, the Williams brothers, Nico and Iñaki, attract the most attention, because with their acceleration and one-on-one play they can change the course of a match in a few seconds.
In Vitoria-Gasteiz, Valverde will need to find a balance between pressure and caution. Athletic can press Alavés high, but the home side has shown in recent rounds that it knows how to punish open space. If Athletic stretches too much, Toni Martínez and his teammates can get situations that quickly lift the crowd to its feet. If, however, Athletic drops too deep, it will lose what makes it most dangerous: energy on the flanks and quick arrivals into the final third.
A particularly interesting detail comes from the attacking rotation. The Spanish AS writes ahead of this round that Nico Williams and Álex Berenguer have recovered and that Valverde has used Roberto Navarro more in recent weeks, while Urko Izeta and Nico Serrano have had fewer minutes. This is not information that in itself announces the lineup, but it explains the context: Athletic has depth, but Valverde is currently narrowing the circle of players he trusts the most.
Absences and caution around lineups
With absences, caution is needed because information changes from day to day. LaLigaExpert stated on 24.04.2026 that for Alavés, Carlos Benavídez was doubtful for Matchday 33 due to an unknown injury. For Athletic, the same report listed Mikel Jauregizar as suspended until Matchday 34, Beñat Prados as doubtful due to a cruciate ligament injury and Aymeric Laporte as doubtful due to a hamstring problem. BeSoccer additionally listed Jauregizar with a leg injury. Since these are data before the match itself, final confirmation of the lineups is valid only when the clubs publish the match sheet for the duel.
- Alavés: Carlos Benavídez was marked as doubtful ahead of the previous round.
- Athletic Club: Mikel Jauregizar was listed as suspended until Matchday 34 according to LaLigaExpert.
- Athletic Club: Beñat Prados was marked as doubtful due to a cruciate ligament injury.
- Athletic Club: Aymeric Laporte was marked as doubtful due to a hamstring injury.
- Athletic Club: BeSoccer listed Jauregizar with a leg injury in the current absence overview.
For a fan, the most important thing is to follow the final hour before kick-off, when the starting lineups are confirmed. If Laporte is not ready, Athletic loses calmness in building from the back line. If Jauregizar is not available, Valverde must arrange the midfield differently. For Alavés, any absence in midfield would be sensitive because the home side needs players who can connect defense and attack without too many lost balls in the middle.
Head-to-head meetings: the last word belonged to Alavés
The first league meeting of this season was played on 13.09.2025, and Alavés won 1-0 away at Athletic. This is an important psychological detail for the home side: Alavés does not enter the match with the feeling that it must topple something impossible, but with proof that this season it has already found a way to get a result against the same opponent. Athletic, on the other hand, will have the motivation to take back what was lost in that September duel.
Recent history, however, is mixed. Athletic defeated Alavés 1-0 at San Mamés on 11.05.2025, while the meeting on 15.12.2024 at Mendizorrotza ended 1-1. In March 2024 Athletic won 2-0 in the league, and in January of the same year it knocked Alavés out of the cup with a 2-0 win. So, Alavés has a fresh win from this season, but Athletic has enough recent memories telling it that it knows how to play against this opponent.
- 13.09.2025: Athletic Bilbao - Alavés 0-1, LaLiga.
- 22.07.2025: Alavés - Athletic Bilbao 1-0, friendly match.
- 11.05.2025: Athletic Bilbao - Alavés 1-0, LaLiga.
- 15.12.2024: Alavés - Athletic Bilbao 1-1, LaLiga.
- 16.03.2024: Athletic Bilbao - Alavés 2-0, LaLiga.
Tactical key: Athletic's flanks against home compactness
Athletic's biggest danger comes when it quickly wins space on the wing. Nico Williams and Iñaki Williams can stretch the defense and look for one-on-one situations, while Guruzeta attacks space in the penalty area. If Alavés allows Athletic to rhythmically switch the side of attack, the home defense will have to run a lot toward its own goal. That is why it is important for Alavés that the first pressing line is not merely symbolic, but aggressive enough to slow the visitors' first pass.
The home side will look for its chances in moments when Athletic loses the ball high. Coudet's team has shown in recent rounds that it knows how to enter an open match, but against Athletic every attack must not end with a long gap between the lines. If Alavés's midfield remains too far from the defense, Athletic will get a second wave of attack, and that is a zone in which Paredes, Guruzeta and the wide players are especially unpleasant.
Because of the form of both teams, this does not look like a match for great risk from the first minute. Alavés will want to use the home ground, but must not open the flanks early. Athletic will want to respond after the defeat away at Atlético Madrid, but must watch the transition. The first 20 minutes could set the tone: if Alavés withstands the initial pressure and wins several set pieces, Mendizorrotza will become louder; if Athletic finds the flank early, the home side will have to chase the rhythm.
Mendizorrotza: a compact stadium felt up close
Mendizorrotza is a stadium that suits matches of this profile. It is not huge, but it is compact, with a capacity of around 19,840 seats according to StadiumDB. It is located at Paseo de Cervantes, s/n, in Vitoria-Gasteiz, and is the home of Deportivo Alavés. It opened in 1924, and its size means that noise from the stands quickly transfers to the pitch, especially when the home side wins several duels in a row or earns a corner in front of its crowd.
For fans coming for the first time, the most important thing is to plan an earlier arrival. The Saturday slot at 18:30 is good for traveling and arriving before dark, but a Basque derby means more people around the stadium than at an ordinary match. Seats in the stands disappear quickly, and it is practical to plan arrival so as to avoid the last wave of crowds immediately before kick-off.
- Stadium: Mendizorrotza.
- Address: Paseo de Cervantes, s/n, Vitoria-Gasteiz.
- Capacity: around 19,840 seats.
- Home club: Deportivo Alavés.
- Stadium opening: 1924.
Arrival at the stadium and the rhythm of the city
Vitoria-Gasteiz is a city where a fan arrival can be done more calmly than in larger Spanish football centers. The stadium is located in an urban part of the city, so part of the route can be planned on foot if you are staying closer to the center or if you arrive in the city earlier. For those arriving by car, the most important thing is not to count on the last moment: around the stadium on matchday traffic slows down, and parking close to the entrances may be limited.
A practical plan is to arrive in Vitoria-Gasteiz earlier during the day, leave enough time for a walk and head toward the stadium before the main fan wave. If you are coming from Bilbao or other parts of the Basque Country, bear in mind that visiting fans will also travel along the same corridors, so it is wise to leave a safe time reserve. It is worth securing tickets on time, especially if you want to sit as a pair or in a larger group.
- Arrive earlier because the 18:30 slot is attractive for home and visiting fans.
- For a car, plan extra time because of congestion around the stadium.
- If you are in the center of Vitoria-Gasteiz, check the possibility of walking toward the stadium.
- For returning immediately after the match, count on delays around the exits and surrounding roads.
Atmosphere: local charge without the need for big words
This is a match in which the atmosphere does not need to be especially explained. Alavés plays at home against an opponent from the Basque Country, Athletic arrives with fans who traditionally follow the team well, and the points have real value. The home crowd will react especially to every duel, every ball won in midfield and every run by Toni Martínez toward the finishing phase. The visiting sector will have its voice, especially if Athletic imposes the tempo first.
Mendizorrotza comes alive most when the match turns into a series of short battles: a set piece, a second ball, a duel on the flank, a quick transition. It suits Alavés when the crowd feels that the team is working without letting up, while Athletic knows how to silence the stadium if it holds the ball for a long time and pushes the home side toward the penalty area. Ticket sales for this match are ongoing, and this kind of encounter usually also attracts neutral football lovers who want to see a regional duel with a clear sporting stake.
Players worth following especially
For Alavés, Toni Martínez is the first name in the finishing phase, but the match will not depend only on him. The home side needs midfielders who can withstand Athletic's pressure and wide players who will not drop too deep. If Alavés only waits, Athletic will gradually squeeze it. If the home side finds timely exits, Toni Martínez can get duels in which he does not have to play with his back to goal the entire match.
For Athletic, Guruzeta is the attacking reference point, and the Williams brothers are the biggest source of imbalance. Nico Williams is especially unpleasant when he receives the ball wide and attacks a center-back or full-back at full speed. Iñaki Williams brings depth and verticality, while Guruzeta waits for space between the center-backs. If Athletic manages to connect those three elements, Alavés will have to defend many more situations in its own penalty area than it would like.
Ernesto Valverde has the experience for matches like this, but also a recurring problem: his team must avoid periods in which it loses control after its own good start. Eduardo Coudet, on the other hand, must make sure that the energy of the home ground does not take Alavés into an overly open match. The best scenario for the home side is not chaos from the first minute, but a patient match in which Mendizorrotza gradually increases the pressure.
What a fan can expect on the pitch
A physical encounter is expected, with many duels in the middle and frequent attempts to attack the flank quickly. Alavés will try to draw value from the home ground, set pieces and transition, while Athletic will look for quicker entries behind the home defense. Since both teams in recent rounds have been both scoring and conceding goals, the match has the potential for a more open period, but not necessarily from the very beginning.
For Alavés, it is crucial not to concede an early goal, because then Athletic could play more comfortably and wait for space. For Athletic, it is crucial not to fall into nervousness if the home side imposes a duel-based game and set pieces. In matches like this, the result is often not decided only by the best individual, but by a detail: a second ball after a corner, a late full-back's step out, a lost ball in midfield or one quality through ball toward the striker.
It is worth securing tickets on time because this match carries a combination of local charge, a concrete fight for points and an interesting tactical clash. Alavés is looking for another step toward a calmer finish to the season, Athletic wants to stop the results oscillations, and Mendizorrotza is small and loud enough that every detail on the pitch receives a stronger echo than in larger stadiums.
Sources:
- LALIGA - current standings of the 2025/2026 LaLiga season and official competition context.
- Sports Mole - match guide for Alaves vs Athletic Bilbao, form, latest results, top scorers, head-to-head meetings and statistical overview.
- Sofascore - confirmation of the match time, stadium, host city and current position of the teams ahead of the match.
- LaLigaExpert - overview of injuries and suspensions ahead of Matchday 33 of the 2025/2026 season, including Alavés and Athletic Club.
- BeSoccer - current overview of injured and suspended players for Athletic Club and Deportivo Alavés.
- AS - context of Athletic's attacking rotation, status of Nico Williams, Álex Berenguer, Roberto Navarro, Urko Izeta and Nico Serrano.
- StadiumDB - data on the Mendizorrotza stadium, capacity, location and home club.