Barcelona vs Deportivo Alaves: Match preview — 31 October 2026

Barcelona return to La Liga action against Alavés after consecutive defeats against Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid. Hansi Flick's team lost 4-2 in the Champions League before suffering a 2-1 defeat in El Clásico, their first league loss of the season. Despite those setbacks, Barcelona remain top of the standings and have the most productive attack in the competition. Alavés, meanwhile, arrive on a six-match winless run but have remained competitive in their defeats.

Barcelona's Attacking Strength and Defensive Concerns

Barcelona made an exceptional start to their La Liga campaign, winning their first nine matches before losing to Real Madrid. The defeat ended their perfect league record, although Flick's team have retained first place after ten rounds.

Attacking productivity remains Barcelona's greatest strength. They have scored 40 goals in ten league matches, averaging four per game. Their ability to create opportunities through sustained possession and movement in advanced areas has been central to their results.

However, recent meetings with stronger opponents have exposed defensive vulnerabilities. Barcelona conceded four goals against PSG and another two against Real Madrid, continuing a pattern of inconsistent defensive performances.

In La Liga, they have allowed an average of 1.1 goals per match. Across their last nine competitive fixtures, Barcelona have managed just one clean sheet, against Getafe in a 3-0 victory. Getafe possess one of the league's least productive attacks, making that result a limited indication of Barcelona's defensive reliability against stronger opposition.

Flick's options in defense are also restricted by injuries. Eric García and Andreas Christensen remain unavailable, while Xavi Espart suffered an injury during El Clásico. Jules Koundé has been dealing with an ankle problem and has yet to resume full training, leaving his participation uncertain.

Dani Olmo and Roony Bardghji are also sidelined. Although Barcelona retain considerable attacking quality, the absences leave Flick with fewer alternatives across the squad, particularly in defense.

Managing the schedule presents another challenge. Barcelona's players have acknowledged accumulating fatigue, and the team must prepare for upcoming fixtures in the Champions League and against Atlético Madrid in La Liga. Flick may therefore need to distribute playing time carefully rather than rely exclusively on his regular starters.

Breaking down compact defenses has not always been straightforward despite Barcelona's impressive scoring record. Against Getafe, they generated 1.93 expected goals (xG) in their 3-0 victory despite dominating possession. The match illustrated how a deep defensive structure can restrict the quality of opportunities even when Barcelona control much of the play.

Alavés' Winless Run and Limited Attacking Output

Alavés began the season reasonably well but have since experienced a prolonged decline in results. Quique Sánchez Flores' team have gone six consecutive league matches without a victory, collecting just two points during that period.

Inconsistent attacking production has been one of their main problems. Alavés have scored 14 goals in ten La Liga matches, but eight of those came in just two fixtures: a 3-0 victory over Getafe and a 5-2 win against Osasuna.

In every other league match, Alavés have scored no more than once. This concentration of goals across a small number of fixtures highlights their difficulties in creating and converting opportunities consistently.

Their away record is particularly modest in attack. Across four league matches on the road, Alavés have scored just three goals, suggesting that they may struggle to maintain an attacking presence against an opponent capable of controlling possession for extended periods.

Lucas Boyé has been their most important attacking player, scoring five league goals, more than a third of the team's total. His contribution has been particularly valuable given the limited productivity of the other forwards.

Toni Martínez is another option and could be included in the starting lineup as Sánchez Flores looks for ways to improve the team's attacking effectiveness.

Alavés also face some personnel problems. Defender Facundo Garcés is unavailable through injury, as is midfielder Mikel Rodríguez. Their absences reduce the manager's options ahead of a match that will require sustained defensive concentration.

Despite their poor recent results, Alavés have generally avoided heavy defeats. They have not lost a La Liga match by more than one goal this season, suggesting that their defensive approach has allowed them to remain competitive even when their attack has struggled.

Sánchez Flores uses a system featuring five defenders, which could help Alavés maintain a compact shape against Barcelona's possession-based attacking play. Restricting space between the defensive and midfield lines will be important, particularly when Barcelona attempt to move the ball into central attacking positions.

Recent meetings between the clubs have also tended to be relatively competitive. Barcelona have won by more than two goals only once in their last eight encounters with Alavés, while three of the previous four meetings produced fewer than four combined goals.

Key Factors

Barcelona's main tactical challenge will be finding space against an Alavés side expected to defend with five players across the back line. Sustained possession alone may not be enough to create clear opportunities, making movement between the lines and the timing of attacking combinations particularly important.

For Alavés, the question is whether they can maintain their compact defensive structure while creating occasional opportunities through Boyé and the other forwards. Barcelona's defensive absences could offer openings, but the visitors' limited away attacking output makes exploiting those situations a significant challenge.

Squad management could also influence Barcelona's performance. With several players unavailable and demanding fixtures approaching, Flick must balance attacking intensity with recovery and defensive stability.