Valencia Y Alaves They are measured in Mestalla with the aim of moving away from the well in a meeting marked by the most recent sensations for both teams that have been more positive for the Vitoria team than for the Valencian player in the most recent clashes.
These sensations contrast with the five points of advantage that Valencia has (35 compared to 30) and with the good performance offered by the local team in their stadium in recent games, although the push that Javi Calleja has given Alavés in clashes more recent has been remarkable.
Valencia need five points to secure the virtual permanence, but a defeat could revive the ghost of having to fight for it until the end.
Weighed down by his weakness as a visitor, Javi Gracia's team has added two of the last twelve possible points and still does not complete the simple duties that he left a month ago about to finish.
The Navarrese coach hopes that in the three games in a row that they will face at home, they will close that issue although after four consecutive victories at Mestalla they will tie with Real Sociedad in the last match at their stadium.
His last defeat came this past Wednesday in the Osasuna field in a match in which he once again showed ease to score agitated by a revitalized Gonçalo Guedes, but above all a great fragility near his goal.
Recovering defensive solidity will therefore be the first objective of Gracia's team to be able to face this encounter. The coach could win back Dutch goalkeeper Jasper Cillessen, so he might have to choose between him and Jaume Domenech.
The return to midfield of Carlos Soler, if he overcomes his muscular discomfort, could also lead him to relocate Daniel Wass to the defensive right flank to replace the injured Thierry Correia.
The other major focus of attention will be the forward, which Gracia has almost always relied on that has been available at Maxi Gómez, who will be able to count on again after serving two penalty games. But the Uruguayan's scoring drought in recent months contrasts with the ease that his substitute Kevin Gamerio has shown to score.
Javier Calleja's men visit Mestalla with their morale and confidence at the top after scoring seven of the last nine possible points in the coach's three games on the babazorro bench.
On the last day, the Basques confirmed their state of grace against the almighty Villarreal (2-1) and added their second consecutive victory seventeen months later after planting one of the championship's strongest.
More possession, less direct play and the intention of reaching the vicinity of the area with the ball on the ground. To this must be added the great moment of Fernando Pacheco and Joselu Mato to close a goal and pierce the opposite with the aim of moving away from the relegation places.
In Mestalla they will try to break another data that indicates that Alavés has not been able to score for twenty years.
Rubén Duarte, Iñigo Córdoba and Rodrigo Ely will continue to be low and it is to be hoped that Javi Calleja will not vary much in his “eleven” compared to the one measured by Unai Emery's team.
Martín Aguirregabiria will continue on the left wing and the only doubt could be in the left zone of the attack from Vitoria where Luis Rioja and Pere Pons are exchanging their appearance in the last matches. Jota Peleteiro, Lucas Pérez and Joselu Mato are making headlines, as is Rodrigo Battaglia, who has recovered the football he showed at the start of the competition.