Key Takeaways
- Barcelona clinched the 2025‑26 LaLiga title three matches early, securing their 29th Spanish championship with a victory over Real Madrid in the Clásico.
- With the league crown already in hand, the Blaugrana now aim to reach the historic milestone of 100 points in a single season; their upcoming visit to Deportivo Alavés is the penultimate fixture of the campaign.
- Alavés sit in 18th place with 37 points, two points adrift of safety (Girona) and three matches left to avoid relegation; they must win against the champions to keep their survival hopes alive.
- The match is scheduled for Wednesday, 13 May 2026 at 13:30 CDTX (15:30 ET), to be played at Estadio de Mendizorroza in Vitoria‑Gasteiz.
- Broadcast partners: Sky Sports (Mexico) and ESPN Deportes (United States).
- Both teams are expected to rotate squads: Barcelona may rest key players ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while Alavés will field their strongest possible lineup in a must‑win clash.
- Confirmed lineups (as released):
- Alavés: Rivera; Ángel P., Tenaglia, Koski, Parada, Rebach, Blanco, Guridi, Denis Suárez, Martínez, Ibrahim.
- Barcelona: Szczesny; Cubarsí, Balde, Casadó, Rolny, Olmo, Bernal, Kounde, Cortés, Lewandowski, Rashford.
Barcelona’s season has culminated in a historic triumph. After defeating arch‑rivals Real Madrid in the Clásico, Hansi Flick’s side clinched the LaLiga title with three games to spare, marking the club’s 29th league championship. The victory not only cemented Barcelona’s dominance in Spanish football but also shifted the team’s focus from securing the title to chasing a symbolic milestone: reaching 100 points in a single league campaign. Currently sitting comfortably atop the table, the Blaugrana view the forthcoming trip to Deportivo Alavés as an opportunity to add crucial points while managing player fatigue ahead of the summer’s FIFA World Cup.
For Alavés, the scenario is starkly different. Occupying 18th place with 37 points, the Basque side finds itself two points behind the safety line held by Girona, who occupy 17th. With three matches remaining—against Real Oviedo, Rayo Vallecano, and now Barcelona—the relegation battle is intensely tight. A win over the champions would not only boost Alavés’ points total but also swing the momentum in their favor, making the subsequent fixtures appear considerably more manageable. Conversely, any dropped points could plunge them deeper into the danger zone, especially given that Girona still has games in hand and could pull further ahead.
The match is set for Wednesday, 13 May 2026. Kick‑off is scheduled for 13:30 hours in Mexico City (CDTX), which translates to 15:30 ET, 14:30 hours in Colombia, Peru and Ecuador, and 17:30 hours for viewers in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. The venue, Estadio de Mendizorroza in Vitoria‑Gasteiz, will host a clash that pits a title‑celebrating Barcelona against a desperate Alavés fighting for top‑flight survival. Fans in Mexico can tune in via Sky Sports, while audiences in the United States will catch the action on ESPN Deportes.
Both coaches are likely to employ rotation strategies, albeit for different reasons. Barcelona’s Hansi Flick may elect to rest several first‑team regulars—such as the goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, defenders Jules Koundé and Alejandro Balde, and forward Robert Lewandowski—to preserve them for the upcoming World Cup, where many Blaugrana players are expected to represent their national sides. This approach would give younger squad members or fringe players valuable minutes while still aiming to secure the three points needed to inch closer to the 100‑point target.
Alavés manager Quique Sánchez Flores, on the other hand, will almost certainly field his strongest available eleven. The urgency of the situation leaves little room for experimentation; every point is precious. The released lineup shows a balanced mix of experience and youth: goalkeeper Rivera anchoring a back‑line that includes Ángel P., Tenaglia, Koski and Parada; a midfield bolstered by Rebach, Blanco, Guridi and Denis Suárez; and an attacking tandem of Martínez and Ibrahim tasked with breaking down a Barcelona defence that may be less than full‑strength.
From a tactical perspective, Barcelona will likely look to dominate possession, using their technical superiority to carve out chances despite a rotated lineup. The presence of creative players like Olmo, Bernal and the youthful Rashford in advanced positions suggests a fluid attacking approach aimed at stretching Alavés’ defensive shape. Alavés, conversely, may adopt a compact, low‑block strategy, looking to frustrate Barcelona’s build‑up and hit on the counter‑attack through the pace of Martínez and the ingenuity of Ibrahim.
Ultimately, the encounter encapsulates the contrasting narratives that define the end of a LaLiga season: a champion already celebrating, yet still pursuing a historic points benchmark, versus a team battling for survival where each goal could be the difference between staying up and facing the drop. The result will have immediate implications for Alavés’ relegation calculus and could also influence Barcelona’s final points tally as they chase the elusive 100‑point mark. Regardless of the outcome, the match promises to be a compelling study in motivation, squad management, and the high stakes that characterize Spanish football’s closing weeks.