(Football news) Alaves is up in 13th place with 20 points from their first 20 games of 2023–24, while the visitors have suffered this season, sitting 18th in the standings with only 15 points from their 20 games. With the goal of consolidating back at this level, Alaves would consider any finish above 18th this term a success. The squad made it back to La Liga through the Segunda Division playoffs last season.

The Blue and Whites were knocked out of the Copa del Rey on Tuesday evening, suffering a 2-0 defeat to Athletic Bilbao, but they have picked up four points from their last two league games, drawing 1-1 with Real Sociedad before beating Sevilla 3-2 at Estadio Ramon last time out.

Ruben Duarte came up with a 90th-minute winner for Alaves in Seville, and the result moved them up into 13th position in the La Liga table, five points ahead of their opponents on Friday night.

Luis Garcia’s side are only actually three points behind 11th-placed Rayo Vallecano, while a relatively solid home record this season has seen them pick up 13 points from nine matches.

Alaves have lost their last two La Liga matches with Cadiz, though, including a 1-0 defeat when the two teams locked horns in the reverse fixture earlier this season.

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