Preview: Alaves vs Real Oviedo - prediction, team news, lineups

[(Deportivo Alaves) Strength]:
1. Carlos Vicente scored 4 goals for Deportivo Alaves in La Liga this season and are currently the team's top scorer.
2. The most recent encounter between the two teams was on October 30, 2022, when Deportivo Alaves defeated Real Oviedo 2-1 at home.
3. In their last 5 competitive matches, Deportivo Alaves only lost once in AH, performing in line with external expectations.

[(Deportivo Alaves) Weakness]:
1. Deportivo Alaves recorded a poor performance in their last 6 La Liga matches, with only 1 win and 5 losses.
2. After 17 rounds of La Liga this season, Deportivo Alaves only provided 6 assists, making them the second-lowest team in the league in terms of assists.
3. After 17 rounds of La Liga this season, Deportivo Alaves committed a total of 268 fouls, making them the team with the most fouls in the league.
4. After 17 rounds of La Liga this season, Deportivo Alaves only scored 14 goals, making them the second-lowest scoring team in the league.
5. After 17 rounds of La Liga this season, Deportivo Alaves have a record of 5 wins, 3 draws, and 9 losses, placing them 15th in the standings with an unremarkable performance.

[(Real Oviedo) Strength]:
1. In their last 4 competitive matches, Real Oviedo lost 3 of them in AH, performing below external expectations.

[(Real Oviedo) Neutral]:
1. Salomon Rondon scored 2 goals for Real Oviedo in La Liga this season before ending his loan spell at Real Oviedo and returning to C.F. Pachuca in Liga MX.

[(Real Oviedo) Weakness]:
1. After 17 rounds of La Liga this season, Real Oviedo have a record of 2 wins, 5 draws, and 10 losses, currently placing them 19th in the standings with poor form.
2. After 17 rounds of La Liga this season, Real Oviedo only scored 7 goals, making them the lowest-scoring team in the league.
3. After 17 rounds of La Liga this season, Real Oviedo received a total of 7 red cards, making them the team with the most red cards in the league.
4. After 17 rounds of La Liga this season, Real Oviedo only provided 3 assists, making them the team with the fewest assists in the league.
5. In their last 11 official matches, Real Oviedo only managed 6 draws and 5 losses, failing to secure a single win, indicating poor form.

[Tips]:
Although Deportivo Alaves rank higher, their recent form is poor with only 1 win and 5 losses in the last 6 rounds.

The suspension of starting center-back Facundo Garces has left their defense full of holes, conceding 8 goals in the last 6 rounds and struggling with finishing efficiency.

Despite dominating possession, they struggle to convert it into goals.

Real Oviedo, despite being 19th, boast a 30% set-piece scoring rate, among the best in La Liga.

Their compact 5-4-1 defense is resilient, with the midfield interception line led by Leander Dendoncker effectively limiting opponents' crosses.

Driven by relegation battle motivation, Real Oviedo can rely on the speed of their counter-attacking forwards to exploit Deportivo Alaves' shaky defense, with goalkeeper Aaron Escandell's 81% save rate providing the final guarantee.

The gap in strength between the two teams is limited.

Deportivo Alaves struggle at home and are in declining form, while Real Oviedo's defensive discipline and efficient counter-attacks are enough to secure a result.

Thus, Real Oviedo are expected to successfully snatch points away.

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