Alaves vs Mallorca: High-Stakes Relegation Battle in La Liga
Estadio Mendizorrotza stages a high‑stakes relegation scrap in La Liga on 25 April 2026 as 18th‑placed Alaves host Mallorca, who sit 14th. Just two points separate the sides – Alaves on 33, Mallorca on 35 – and with the season deep into its run (Regular Season – 32), this feels like a six‑pointer in the battle to avoid LaLiga2.
Context and stakes
In the league, Alaves occupy the final relegation place, with a goal difference of -12 (36 scored, 48 conceded) across all phases. Their recent form line of LDDWD underlines a team that has become hard to beat but still struggles to turn draws into wins.
Mallorca, four places higher in 14th, have only a slightly better cushion. They have 35 points, a goal difference of -9 (40 for, 49 against) and a form guide of DWWLW – more volatile, but with more wins on the board. Given how congested the bottom half typically is, defeat here could drag Mallorca right back into serious trouble, while victory would give them breathing space and push Alaves closer to the drop.
Alaves: Home edge and structural solidity
Across all phases, Alaves’ season profile is clear: stronger at home, fragile away. At Mendizorrotza they have:
- 15 home games: 5 wins, 6 draws, 4 defeats
- Goals: 19 scored, 18 conceded (1.3 for, 1.2 against on average)
That near‑par goal difference at home contrasts sharply with their away record and suggests a side that is competitive and organised in Vitoria‑Gasteiz. Only four home losses in 15 is a solid base for a relegation fight.
Their overall form string (WLDWLDLWDLWLLLWLLDLLWWLDDLLDWDDL) reflects a season of streaks: the biggest losing run is three, the longest winning run just two. They rarely sustain momentum but also avoid total collapse. Defensively, they have managed only 3 clean sheets all season (2 at home), which underlines that even at Mendizorrotza, they tend to concede.
Tactically, the data points to a pragmatic side. The most used formations are:
- 4‑4‑2 (16 times)
- 4‑1‑4‑1 (8 times)
- 4‑2‑3‑1 (3 times)
This suggests a coach who values structure, compactness and a clear two‑striker or lone‑forward reference, with wide midfielders asked to work both ways. The 4‑4‑2 and 4‑1‑4‑1 also help them double up in wide areas – important against a Mallorca side that can overload flanks from a 4‑2‑3‑1 base.
Discipline is a concern late in games. Yellow card distribution peaks between 76‑90 minutes (16 yellows, 20.25%) and there is a notable cluster of red cards in stoppage time (3 between 91‑105 minutes). In a match of this tension, late lapses could be costly.
Alaves key players
Two forwards define Alaves’ attacking threat:
- Lucas Boyé: 11 league goals and 1 assist in 26 appearances, with 46 shots (20 on target). His profile is that of a hard‑working front man: 33 tackles, 6 blocks, 7 interceptions and 373 duels contested. He draws plenty of fouls (36) but also commits many (54), hinting at a combative style that can both unsettle defences and risk bookings. From the spot he has been reliable this season (3 penalties scored, 0 missed).
- Toni Martínez: 9 goals and 3 assists in 31 appearances, with 67 shots (29 on target). He has won 215 of 418 duels and attempts to stretch defences with 34 dribbles (17 successful). His minutes and usage (26 starts) show he is central to the game plan, whether as a second striker in 4‑4‑2 or the lone forward in 4‑2‑3‑1.
Alaves have converted all 6 team penalties this season (100%), giving them a potential edge if this tight game is decided by a spot‑kick.
Mallorca: Home comfort, away vulnerability
Mallorca’s league position is built on strong home form and a very poor away record. Across all phases:
- Home: 17 played, 8 wins, 5 draws, 4 losses; 27‑20 goal tally
- Away: 15 played, 1 win, 3 draws, 11 losses; 13‑29 goal tally
That away record is alarming: 11 defeats in 15, conceding almost 2 goals per game (1.9) and scoring under 1 (0.9). It frames this trip to Mendizorrotza as a serious test of their ability to manage risk on the road.
Mallorca’s overall form string (LDLLDLWLWDLWLDDWDLLWLWLLLLDWLWWD) is wildly streaky, with a longest losing run of four and a best winning run of two. When they lose, they can spiral; when they click, they can string results together. Their biggest away win is 1‑3, but they have also lost 3‑0 away – underlining their boom‑or‑bust tendencies on the road.
Tactically, they are wedded to:
- 4‑2‑3‑1 (19 times) as the base
- with occasional switches to 5‑3‑2, 4‑3‑1‑2 and 4‑4‑2.
The double pivot in 4‑2‑3‑1 is key to shielding a defence that concedes 1.5 goals per game overall and 1.9 away. Against Alaves’ likely 4‑4‑2, those two holding midfielders will have to manage the spaces between the lines and deal with the physicality of Boyé and Martínez.
Discipline is also an issue: Mallorca have multiple red cards, particularly in the 31‑45 and 91‑105 minute ranges. In a tight relegation battle, staying at 11 men may be half the contest.
Mallorca key player: Vedat Muriqi
Vedat Muriqi is the standout figure in this fixture. For Mallorca in La Liga 2025 he has:
- 21 goals and 1 assist in 31 appearances
- 79 shots, 42 on target
- A strong all‑round contribution: 382 duels (200 won), 7 tackles, 4 blocks, 3 interceptions
- 56 fouls drawn, 32 committed
He is the classic focal point striker: aerially dominant, constantly engaged in physical battles, and the primary outlet when Mallorca go direct. His presence gives Mallorca a clear Plan A – feed crosses and early balls into him, then play off second balls.
From the spot, Muriqi has scored 5 penalties but also missed 2 this season. He remains a major threat from 11 metres, but his record is not flawless and that nuance matters in a game where a single penalty could define the narrative.
Mallorca as a team have a 100% penalty conversion this season (5/5), but the individual numbers confirm that Muriqi has not been perfect from the spot overall.
Head‑to‑head: Margins and balance
Looking only at competitive La Liga meetings in the last five games between these sides:
- September 2025: Mallorca 1‑0 Alaves (at Son Moix)
- March 2025: Mallorca 1‑1 Alaves
- November 2024: Alaves 1‑0 Mallorca (at Mendizorroza)
- February 2024: Alaves 1‑1 Mallorca
- December 2023: Mallorca 0‑0 Alaves
Across these five:
- Mallorca wins: 1
- Alaves wins: 1
- Draws: 3
The pattern is striking: five matches, no team scoring more than once in any game, and three draws. The last two meetings in Vitoria‑Gasteiz have both been tight: a 1‑0 home win for Alaves and a 1‑1 draw before that. The head‑to‑head narrative is one of fine margins, low scores and little to separate the sides.
Tactical battle and game script
Expect Alaves to lean into their home solidity: a compact 4‑4‑2 or 4‑1‑4‑1, disciplined in their block, looking to exploit Mallorca’s fragile away defence with quick transitions and crosses towards Boyé and Martínez. Their ability to draw fouls and win duels in advanced areas could be decisive, especially with Alaves’ perfect penalty record this season.
Mallorca will likely retain their 4‑2‑3‑1, with Muriqi as the target man. On the road, they may sit a little deeper than at Son Moix, trying to protect a back line that concedes heavily away and hit Alaves on counters or through early deliveries to Muriqi. The double pivot must control second balls around him and prevent Alaves from dominating midfield.
Both sides have limited clean sheets (Alaves 3, Mallorca 4) and concede around 1.5 goals per game overall, but the head‑to‑head trend has been low‑scoring. That tension between season‑long defensive fragility and historically tight meetings is central to predicting how open this game becomes.
Discipline and late‑game management loom large. Both teams pick up a lot of cards in the final quarter‑hour and stoppage time, and both have red cards in that window. In a relegation‑tinged contest, a late dismissal or penalty could swing everything.
The verdict
The data paints a picture of a finely balanced fixture: Alaves stronger at home, Mallorca markedly weaker away; head‑to‑head almost dead‑even; both sides defensively vulnerable over the season but historically cagey against each other.
Alaves’ need is greater – they are in the relegation zone, at home, and generally harder to beat in Vitoria‑Gasteiz. Mallorca have the outstanding individual in Muriqi, but their away record (1 win in 15) is too poor to ignore.
On balance, the numbers point towards a tight, nervy contest with few goals and no clear favourite. A draw would fit both the recent head‑to‑head pattern and Mallorca’s away frailties versus Alaves’ inability to string wins together. If there is to be a winner, the slight edge lies with Alaves, driven by desperation, home advantage and a more reliable penalty record – but every sign suggests this will be decided by a single moment rather than sustained superiority.
