Alavés seeks survival boost vs Barcelona

Deportivo Alavés are not playing a normal late-season league match here. They are playing one of those nights that can tilt an entire season. Barcelona arrive at Mendizorroza on Wednesday, May 13, as newly crowned La Liga champions. Alavés arrive in 18th place, pushed down after Levante won at Celta, and now every point feels like oxygen. The gap is simple — Barcelona are chasing history and 100 points, but Alavés are chasing survival. ### Why does this game suddenly feel so desperate? Because the table moved against Alavés before they even kicked a ball. Levante’s 3-2 win in Vigo dropped Alavés to penultimate place, and with only three rounds left that changes the emotional math fast. A bad run becomes a crisis. A home game against the champions stops being glamorous and starts looking like the one chance you somehow have to steal something huge. (elcorreo.com) ### What exactly did Sánchez Flores say? His message was basically: no drama, just force and consistency. Local coverage framed his demand around “contundencia” and being steady, and he also said Alavés still need to “round off a night that can be remembered.” That tells you a lot about the mood. He is not selling fantasy. He is asking for a complete performance — concentration, edge in both boxes, and no soft stretches against a team that punishes them immediately. (elcorreo.com) ### Why is Barcelona still dangerous if the title is already won? Because this version of Barcelona has not eased off. They clinched the title by beating Real Madrid 2-0, they are on 91 points, and the remaining target is obvious — 100. Hansi Flick has already made that public. So even if there is some celebration hangover, the incentive is still real. This is not a team drifting into summer. It is a champion with another benchmark in sight. (elcorreo.com) ### Is there any reason for Alavés to believe? A few, actually. First, it is at Mendizorroza, which is sold out. Second, survival races create weird games — the lower team often plays with more urgency than quality, and sometimes urgency is enough to distort the match. Third, Toni Martínez is expected to be available after a knock, which matters because Alavés need a direct outlet and a finisher if they are going to turn pressure into an actual goal. (elcorreo.com) ### What is the catch? The catch is that Barcelona are a brutal opponent for a team in Alavés’ position. They have dominated this matchup for years, and Alavés are fighting while carrying very little margin for error. One lapse in buildup, one lost runner, one cheap transition — that can kill the whole plan. Survival teams can live with being outplayed a bit. They cannot live with gifting moments away. (deportivoalaves.com) ### So what would count as success for Alavés? A win changes everything, obviously. But even a draw could matter because the bottom of the table is compressed and the season is nearly out of runway. The real aim is to keep the race alive going into the final two matches. If Alavés take something off the champions, the pressure shifts outward again. If they lose, the path gets much narrower, much faster. (si.com) ### Why does the atmosphere matter so much here? Because clubs in this spot lean on the stadium to make the game feel heavier for the favorite. Mendizorroza is sold out, and Alavés have even tied the night to club memory by reviving the shirt linked to the Dortmund UEFA Cup final era. That does not create points by itself, but it can turn a tense survival game into something louder, sharper, and harder for the champion to control comfortably. (elcorreo.com) ### Bottom line This is one of those asymmetrical matches where both teams care a lot, just for totally different reasons. Barcelona want to keep rolling as champions. Alavés need proof — and probably points — to keep their place in the division within reach. For them, this is not a celebration night. It is a survival exam. (elcorreo.com) (deportivoalaves.com)