The second leg of the Segunda Division play-off semi-final between Alaves and Eibar will take place at Mendizorrotza on Thursday. The first leg, held on Saturday, ended in a 1-1 draw, leaving this game hanging in the balance.
Having the advantage of playing the second leg at home, Luis Garcia Plaza’s team holds the upper hand. However, they will need to improve their offensive performance if they want to secure victory and advance to the finals.
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In the first leg, Eibar demonstrated more attacking intent, registering 14 shots compared to Alaves’ three. Eibar managed to place four shots on target, whereas Alaves had only one, which resulted in Sylla’s goal. These statistics are notable considering that Alaves had less possession, with only 48% of the ball.
Alaves vs Eibar match preview
Basque teams Alaves and Eibar will off in the second leg of the Segunda Division playoff semi-finals at Mendizorroza. The first leg ended in a 1-1 draw, making the outcome of the playoff uncertain before Thursday’s return leg.
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Alaves, who finished fourth in the league, will enjoy the advantage of playing in front of their home fans in the second leg. They will look to replicate their previous 2-0 win against Eibar in February.
Alaves has been impressive at home this season, losing only one of their 21 league games at Mendizorroza. They boast the second-best home record in the Segunda Division.
With a strong defense that has conceded more than one goal in only two home matches this season, Alaves hopes to rely on their solid backline to secure victory on Thursday.
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Eibar, on the other hand, might be disappointed with the draw in the first leg, as they have only won once in their last 11 matches.
Despite failing to capitalize on home advantage in the first leg, Eibar is still in contention for promotion, aiming to return to the top tier after a two-year stint in the second division.
Eibar reached the playoff semi-finals last season but lost 2-1 on aggregate to Girona, who eventually earned promotion. Eibar’s away win against Girona in the previous campaign’s playoffs could serve as motivation.
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In their recent away match, Eibar defeated Huesca, ending a four-game winless streak on the road. If they secure another victory on Thursday, they will advance to the playoff final to face either Levante or Albacete.
Alaves possible starting lineup:
Sivera; Tenaglia, Abqar, Sedlar, Duarte; Blanco, Benavidez, Guridi; Rioja, Jason, Sylla
Eibar possible starting lineup:
Zidane; Tejero, Alvarez, Berrocal, Rodriguez; Nolaskoain, Pereira; Corpas, Munoz, Stoichkov; Bautista
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Alaves vs Eibar prediction
Alaves have been formidable when playing at home, and are currently running an impressive 10-game unbeaten streak. They are expected to start the match with high intensity, putting Eibar under significant pressure. Eibar, on the other hand, have struggled especially when playing away from home. Thus, it is highly likely that Alaves will come out on top in this encounter.
Prediction: Alaves 2-1 Eibar
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Date, kick-off time, venue
Alaves will take on Eibar at the Estadio de Mendizorroza stadium in Vitoria-Gasteiz city, Spain, at 19:00 UTC on June 8. The match is part of the LaLiga 2 promotion playoffs.
