La Liga: Alaves at Home is a Must Win for Atletico

Atletico Madrid vs Alaves

When Atletico Madrid welcome Deportivo Alaves to the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium on Sunday there will be plenty of nerves on show.

This is a high pressure match for both teams at either end of the table. Diego Simeone’s Atleti were in a commanding position at the top but recent La Liga 2021 results have not gone in their favour. Barcelona’s four-match winning run has cut Atleti’s lead to just four points at the summit of La Liga and, with both teams out of European competition, there will be an almighty battle for the league title between the Madrid and Catalan giants.

Meanwhile Alaves arrive in Madrid on the back of a wretched run which has dumped them in the bottom three and with time running out…the stakes are high.

Talking Points

Atleti feeling the pressure

The Wanda Metropolitano isn’t such a relaxed place to be at the moment and things are getting a little edgy as Los Rojiblancos try to round off a phenomenal season with a league triumph. They dropped more points in a draw away to Getafe last week, failing to beat ten men after Allan Nyom was sent off mid way through the second half. Los Rojiblancos had 15 shots and seven on target but they just couldn’t breach a resolute Getafe rearguard.

And a late, late equaliser from Karim Benzema denied Atleti all three points in the recent Madrid derby; I wonder how important that could be come May.

Luis Suarez is the man to fire Atleti to glory, he has 18 goals already and has looked sharp all season, while Joao Felix, with seven goals, can have a big impact on the run-in too, starting on Sunday. The strikers can invariably count on their defence to perform; now it’s up to them.

Atletico made a Champions League exit against Chelsea on Wednesday night, 3-0 on aggregate to Thomas Tuchel’s side despite having a fair share of the possession and attempts on goal, and I expect them to rediscover their cutting edge against Alaves.

The very latest La Liga 2021 betting odds still back Simeone’s men, but no longer heavily odds on and, with the Catalans breathing down their necks, anything but a victory over Alaves could shift the momentum towards Barcelona.

Alaves in relegation peril

La Liga: Joselu is the top scorer of Deportivo Alaves — Joselu celebrates after scoring against Real Valladolid

Since beating Real Valladolid 1-0 early in February Alaves have been on a five match winless run which has left them in a perilous position in 18^th place in the league table. Following that win Alaves were thumped 5-1 by Barcelona and then 4-0 by Real Sociedad and that’s a decent benchmark for Atletico, who should have some joy against such a leaky defence.

At the other end of the pitch the hosts will need to keep an eye on former Newcastle United striker Joselu who has some pedigree, having advanced through the academy ranks at Real Madrid and represented Spain at U21 level. He’s bagged seven goals so far this season, including the vital winner against Valladolid, and he should end up with double figures. The other threat comes from veteran forward Lucas Perez who has weighed in with four goals and three assists.

Head coach Abelardo Fernadez returned to the Basque country club at the start of the season hoping to improve on last term’s 16^th placed finish, but he’d certainly take that now!

History

Alaves have had a fair amount of success against their illustrious opponents over the years, winning four and drawing four of the last 17 meetings while Atleti have won nine. But more recently Los Rojiblancos have been in charge.

Simeone’s side won 2-1 away to Alaves in the first game of the calendar year, thanks to a 90^th minute winner from Suarez. Victor Laguardia was sent off for Alaves who had a flurry of late chances, but the win took Atleti to the top of the table.

Atletico have won five of the last six meetings and drawn the other. And, when playing at home, haven’t lost to Alaves in five encounters.

Betting Tip

	Atletico Madrid vs Alaves	Atletico Madrid Asian Handicap -1.50 @ 2.31
	March 22, 01:30 (GMT+8)

At SBOTOP odds of 1.38 Los Rojiblancos are hot favourites to get their title challenge back on track, with the draw at 4.36 and Alaves at 7.34.

Simeone’s side haven’t been short of chances in recent games, they just haven’t converted enough, and against a defence which will be more generous than Chelsea’s they should have more joy.