FC Barcelona vs Deportivo Alavés: Preview, Prediction, Lineups

FC Barcelona vs Deportivo Alavés — Match Preview

Saturday afternoon football returns to the Spotify Camp Nou as FC Barcelona look to bounce back from a disappointing Champions League defeat against Chelsea. Hansi Flick’s side currently sits 2nd in La Liga, just behind the leaders, and will view this home fixture against Deportivo Alavés as a must-win to keep the pressure on at the top of the table.

For Alavés, the task is daunting. Sitting 14th in the table, the visitors have struggled for consistency, losing three of their last five matches. While they arrive as heavy underdogs, they will look to exploit any fatigue in the Barcelona legs following their midweek European exertions. Can the Babazorros pull off a shock, or will the Blaugrana prove too strong at home?

FC Barcelona vs Deportivo Alavés — Quick Match Info

Fixture: FC Barcelona vs Deportivo Alavés
Competition: La Liga (Matchday 14)
Venue: Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona (Capacity: 99,354)
Date: Saturday, 29 November 2025
Kickoff Time: 16:15 CET / 15:15 GMT / 20:45 IST
Referee: TBC
TV Channel (Spain): DAZN LaLiga, Movistar+
TV Channel (USA): ESPN+, ESPN Deportes
TV Channel (India): GXR, Sports18
Live Stream: ESPN+ (USA), GXR / FanCode (India)

FC Barcelona vs Deportivo Alavés — Match Context (2025/26 Season)

FC Barcelona:

Position: 2nd in La Liga (31 Points).
Form: Strong domestically but bruised. They have won 4 of their last 5 La Liga games, scoring heavily (including a 4-0 win vs Athletic Bilbao), but the 0-3 loss to Chelsea midweek was a reality check.
Current Challenge: Managing a squad depleted by midfield injuries while maintaining their high-scoring form (36 goals scored, the best in the league).

Deportivo Alavés:

Position: 14th in La Liga (15 Points).
Form: Inconsistent. They have lost 3 of their last 5 league games, including tough 1-0 defeats to Celta Vigo and Girona. Their only recent bright spot was a 7-0 Cup win over Deportivo Getxo.
Current Challenge: Finding goals against top-tier opposition. They have scored just 11 goals in 13 games, a worrying stat when visiting the Camp Nou.

FC Barcelona vs Deportivo Alavés — What’s at Stake

For FC Barcelona:

Title Charge: With Real Madrid likely winning, Barcelona cannot afford to drop points at home. A win keeps them on the heels of their rivals.

For Deportivo Alavés:

Breathing Room: Sitting just above the relegation battle, a surprise point here would be a massive bonus. They need to stop their slide down the table.

FC Barcelona vs Deportivo Alavés — Team Form

FC Barcelona (Last 5 Matches):

L vs Chelsea (0-3 – CL)
W vs Athletic Bilbao (4-0)
W vs Celta Vigo (4-2)
D vs Club Brugge (3-3 – CL)
W vs Elche (3-1)

Deportivo Alavés (Last 5 Matches):

L vs Celta Vigo (0-1)
L vs Girona (0-1)
W vs Espanyol (2-1)
W vs Deportivo Getxo (7-0 – Cup)
L vs Rayo Vallecano (0-1)

FC Barcelona vs Deportivo Alavés — Team News

FC Barcelona:

Gavi: Out (Knee Injury – Long-term absentee).
Pedri: Out (Muscle Injury – Huge loss for creativity).
Marc-André ter Stegen: Out (Back Injury – Iñaki Peña continues in goal).
Rotation: With Pedri and Gavi out, expect Frenkie de Jong to take charge of the midfield alongside Marc Casadó or Fermín López.
Lamine Yamal: Expected to start and torment the Alavés full-backs.

Deportivo Alavés:

Filip Garces: Suspended (Yellow Card accumulation).
Calebe: Out (Injury).
Toni Martínez: Questionable (Injury – Late fitness test).
Defensive Setup: Without Garces, Alavés may shift their defensive structure to a back five to cope with Barcelona’s width.

FC Barcelona vs Deportivo Alavés — Head to Head

02 Feb 2025: Barcelona 1–0 Alavés
06 Oct 2024: Alavés 0–3 Barcelona
03 Feb 2024: Alavés 1–3 Barcelona
12 Nov 2023: Barcelona 2–1 Alavés
24 Jan 2022: Alavés 0–1 Barcelona
Analysis: Barcelona has won the last 5 meetings in a row, conceding only 2 goals in the process.

FC Barcelona vs Deportivo Alavés — Predicted Lineups

FC Barcelona (4-2-3-1):

Flick will likely stick to his attacking guns despite the injuries.

GK: Iñaki Peña
RB: Jules Koundé
CB: Pau Cubarsí
CB: Iñigo Martínez
LB: Alejandro Balde
CDM: Marc Casadó
CDM: Frenkie de Jong (C)
RW: Lamine Yamal
CAM: Dani Olmo
LW: Raphinha
ST: Robert Lewandowski

Deportivo Alavés (5-4-1):

Expect a low block to frustrate Barca.

GK: Antonio Sivera
RWB: Nahuel Tenaglia
CB: Abdel Abqar
CB: Aleksandar Sedlar
CB: Moussa Diarra
LWB: Manu Sánchez
RM: Carlos Vicente
CM: Ander Guevara (C)
CM: Antonio Blanco
LM: Jon Guridi
ST: Kike García (or Villalibre)

FC Barcelona vs Deportivo Alavés — Impact Bench Options

FC Barcelona:

Ansu Fati: If Barca struggles to break the deadlock, Fati’s directness and finishing ability off the bench could be crucial.
Pau Víctor: A young striking option to rest Lewandowski late in the game.

Deportivo Alavés:

Stoichkov: Can provide creativity and a goal threat if Alavés needs to chase the game in the final 20 minutes.
Asier Villalibre: A physical presence to target for long balls if they go direct.

FC Barcelona vs Deportivo Alavés — Tactical Outlook

FC Barcelona:

Playing Style: High-Tempo Possession. Flick wants the ball moved fast. With Yamal and Raphinha on the wings, they will stretch Alavés horizontally to create gaps in the middle for Lewandowski.
Weakness: Defensive Transitions. The high line (Cubarsí/Martínez) is risky. If Alavés can bypass the press, there is space behind.

Deportivo Alavés:

Playing Style: Survival Block. Alavés will likely defend with all 11 players behind the ball, looking to absorb pressure. They will rely on set-pieces and counter-attacks via Carlos Vicente.
Strength: Aerial Duels. They are a physical side. If they can force corners, they have a height advantage over Barca’s midfield.

FC Barcelona vs Deportivo Alavés — Key Battles

Matchup	Battle Type	Edge
Alejandro Balde vs. Carlos Vicente	Speed vs. Work Rate: Balde loves to attack, but Vicente is Alavés’ main outlet. Balde must be careful not to get caught upfield.	Barcelona
Frenkie de Jong vs. Ander Guevara	Control vs. Grinta: De Jong needs to dictate the tempo. Guevara will try to disrupt him physically.	Barcelona
Pau Cubarsí vs. Kike García	Youth vs. Experience: Kike García is a master of the “dark arts” and physical play. Cubarsí needs to stay calm and not get bullied.	Even

FC Barcelona vs Deportivo Alavés — Spotlight Players

Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelona):

The teenage sensation is the X-factor. With Pedri out, the creative burden falls on him. His ability to beat defenders 1v1 will be the key to unlocking Alavés’ packed defense.

Antonio Sivera (Deportivo Alavés):

The goalkeeper will be the busiest man on the pitch. To get a result at Camp Nou, he needs to have a “10/10” performance and make multiple world-class saves.

FC Barcelona vs Deportivo Alavés — Fan Reactions

Barcelona Fans:

“No Pedri is tough, but we have enough quality to beat Alavés. Lewandowski hat-trick incoming!”

“We need a reaction after the Chelsea game. 4-0 minimum.”

Alavés Fans:

“It’s Camp Nou, we expect nothing. Just don’t get embarrassed like we did against Barca last time.”

“If we defend like we did against Celta, we will concede 5.”

FC Barcelona vs Deportivo Alavés — Match-Defining Factors

The First 20 Minutes: If Barcelona scores early, the floodgates could open. If Alavés survives the first wave, the crowd might get frustrated.
Barca’s Midfield Balance: Without Gavi and Pedri, can Casadó and De Jong control the game and stop counter-attacks?
Fatigue: Barcelona played a high-intensity game against Chelsea just days ago. Alavés has had a full week to prepare.

FC Barcelona vs Deportivo Alavés — Prediction

Score Prediction: FC Barcelona 3–0 Deportivo Alavés

Betting Insights:

Outcome: FC Barcelona to Win (-1 Handicap).
Clean Sheet: FC Barcelona YES (Alavés struggle to score away).
First Goalscorer: Robert Lewandowski.

Analysis: Despite the injuries and the midweek loss, the gap in quality is immense. Barcelona are lethal at home in La Liga, and Alavés simply do not have the firepower to hurt them. Expect a comfortable afternoon for the Blaugrana as they get back to winning ways.

FC Barcelona vs Deportivo Alavés — Final Word

FC Barcelona need to wash the bad taste of the Champions League defeat out of their mouths, and Deportivo Alavés are the perfect opponent for that. While the visitors will fight hard, their lack of goals makes a comeback unlikely if they concede first. Expect Flick’s men to put on a show for the Camp Nou faithful.

FC Barcelona vs Deportivo Alavés — FAQs

When is the Barcelona vs Alavés match?

The match kicks off on Saturday, 29 November 2025, at 16:15 CET (20:45 IST).

Is Pedri playing?

No, Pedri is ruled out with a muscle injury.

Who is the Alavés goalkeeper?

Antonio Sivera is the first-choice goalkeeper for Deportivo Alavés.

Where can I watch the match in India?

You can watch the match live on GXR and Sports18.

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