Preview:Alaves vs. Eibar - prediction, team news, lineups

Alaves and Eibar square off in La Liga on Wednesday evening with just one point separating the teams in the standings.

However, both teams suffered defeats at the weekend, leaving them within another setback of dropping into the relegation zone.

Match preview

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After their surprise win away at champions Real Madrid, Alaves would have expected to kick on in their following games as they bid to move away from trouble.

However, Babazorros have failed to score in their last three matches, restricting the club to just one point from fixtures against Real Sociedad, Huesca and Celta Vigo.

While Alaves remain outside of the relegation zone on goal difference, Pablo Machin will be concerned that his players are only raising their game against the bigger clubs.

Conceding just 16 goals in 14 matches is an excellent return for a club of their size, but none of this squad has netted more than three times at the other end in La Liga.

Finding the back of the net has also been a long-term issue for Eibar, with 10 goals the joint-worst return in Spain's top flight.

Possessing the third-best backline has ensured that Los Armeros currently sit outside of the bottom three, although there is now small margin for error for Jose Luis Mendilibar's squad.

To their credit, they have suffered just two defeats from 11 matches in all competitions, the most recent coming on Sunday as they lost out to Real Madrid by a 3-1 scoreline.

A second successive defeat would leave Eibar at risk of being in the relegation zone at the turn of the year, although Mendilibar may prefer to view this game as the perfect opportunity to make significant progress towards the top half of the table.

Alaves La Liga form: DDWDLL Alaves form (all competitions): DWDLWL

Eibar La Liga form: DDWDDL Eibar form (all competitions): DWDDWL

Team News

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Eibar boss Mendilibar will be able to call upon Esteban Burgos after the defender completed his suspension.

Aside from Anaitz Arbilla reverting to left-back, the remainder of the starting XI could remain the same.

Alaves head coach Machin will be unable to select Rodrigo Ely, who suffered a knee issue at the weekend.

Victor Laguardia is likely to take his place in the middle of the backline.

Alaves possible starting lineup: Pacheco; Navarro, Laguardia, Lejeune, Duarte; Jota, Pina, Battaglia, Rioja; Perez, Joselu

Eibar possible starting lineup: Dmitrovic; Pozo, Burgos, Bigas, Arbilla; Inui, Exposito, Diop, Gil; Garcia, Muto

We say: Alaves 1-1 Eibar

Avoiding defeat will be the priority of these two teams on Wednesday evening and we feel that the respective managers will achieve their objectives. With neither side having much success in the final third, expect a low-scoring draw to be played out.

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