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

Saturday's La Liga action gets underway with Levante's trip to Vitoria-Gasteiz for their clash with Alaves at the Mendizorrotza.

Javier Calleja's new-look Alaves side will be desperate for the three points this weekend as they continue to fight for top-flight survival.

Match preview

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With eight points from his first four league games at the helm, new Alaves boss Calleja looked to be operating on an entirely different level and 16th-placed Alaves looked more than capable of dodging the drop.

However, a dismal 3-0 drubbing last time out at the hands of regional rivals and fellow relegation candidates Eibar proved that Calleja's men were not yet out of the woods.

During the tie, Eibar veteran Kike put Alaves to the sword, scoring all three goals, while El Glorioso managed to notch just two shots on target throughout the 90 minutes.

Against Levante this weekend, Calleja's men face a side with a lot less to lose, and that may suit Alaves as they look to go five points clear of the dreaded drop zone.

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Levante fans have seen both the good and the bad from their side this season, unfortunately for them, the only thing that is left to see is the ugly.

Paco Lopez's team are in the midst of a dismal run of results having picked up just three points from their last seven league games.

To add insult to injury, Levante have lost their last four top-flight outings, scoring just one goal in the process.

Currently 13th in the standings, Levante's league position does not accurately reflect the highs of the campaign, but it certainly does reflect the lows.

Lopez will hope three points this weekend will help revive the side as they limp towards the finishing line.

Team News

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Calleja may look to ring the changes after their humiliating loss to Eibar, with the likes of John Guidetti and Deyverson both looking likely to lead the line for El Glorioso.

Alaves will be without defensive stalwart Ruben Duarte this weekend, who is out with a foot injury, while Rodrigo Ely is also still unavailable.

Lopez will have to continue to make do without defender Nemanja Radoja who is out with an ankle injury.

Midfield maestro Jose Campana and Nikola Vukcevic are also unavailable due to injury.

Alaves possible starting lineup:
Pacheco; Navarro, Laguardia, Lejeune, Aguirregabiria; Edgar Mendez, Battaglia, Pina, Jota; Guidetti, Joselu

Levante possible starting lineup:
Cardenas; Postigo, Duarte, Vezo; De Frutos, Melero, Rober, Bardhi, Clerc; Sanchez, Roger

We say: Alaves 2-0 Levante

Despite their shock defeat to Eibar last time out, we think Alaves still have enough in the tank to find their way past a lacklustre Levante side this weekend.