Real Oviedo host Deportivo Alavés at the Estadio Nuevo Carlos Tartiere on Sunday evening in Round 37 of La Liga, with both sides looking to finish the campaign strongly after mixed recent runs.
The fixture carries added weight because Oviedo need a response to a difficult spell, while Alavés arrive with a clearer tactical identity and a recent win over FC Barcelona still fresh in the memory.
Look at our Data and Stats for Real Oviedo vs Deportivo Alavés
Why it matters
For Real Oviedo, this is about arresting momentum before the season reaches its final stretch. Their recent home results have been stubborn rather than convincing, and another flat display would deepen the sense that they have struggled to turn competitive performances into points.
Alavés, by contrast, have shown they can compete with stronger opposition and manage games in a compact structure. With the campaign nearing its conclusion, this is a chance to reinforce that resilience and keep their end-of-season direction positive.
Form picture
Oviedo’s recent league form tells the story of a side finding goals hard to come by. They have drawn blanks against Getafe and Real Madrid, while defeats to Real Betis and Elche have underlined how quickly matches can slip away when they fall behind.
There has at least been some resistance at home, with draws against Getafe and Villarreal showing they can stay in games. But the lack of cutting edge remains the major concern, especially when they are asked to break down a disciplined opponent.
Alavés have been more varied, but their results suggest a team with a stronger competitive edge. Beating FC Barcelona 1-0 was the standout, and wins over Mallorca and a draw at Elche show they have been able to handle different types of challenge.
Their defeats have come against stronger attacking sides, including Athletic Club and Real Madrid, but even in those games they have generally remained organised. That balance gives them a more settled look than Oviedo heading into this meeting.
Key storyline
The main tactical theme is likely to be Oviedo’s need to take the initiative against a side comfortable without the ball. Alavés have repeatedly used a back five, and that shape should again allow them to protect central areas and force Oviedo into wider, less dangerous positions.
That makes the first goal especially important. If Oviedo cannot break through early, the match may become a test of patience against a compact block, with Alavés looking to spring forward through Toni Martínez and Ibrahim Diabaté when space opens up.
Team news
Real Oviedo have no reported injuries, which gives them a relatively clean bill of health at a crucial stage of the season. That should allow them to keep faith with a familiar core rather than being forced into changes.
Their recent lineups suggest a degree of flexibility between a 4-3-3 and a 4-4-2, but the likely shape here is a front line built around Federico Viñas, Ilyas Chaira and Thiago Fernández. In midfield, Alberto Reina, Nicolás Fonseca and Santiago Colombatto offer the balance needed to control territory and support the attack.
Alavés are missing Facundo Garcés through suspension, which is the main team news issue for the visitors. Even so, their recent selections point towards continuity in a 5-3-2 system, with Antonio Sivera behind a back line designed to stay compact and difficult to move.
That structure should again leave Denis Suárez and Jon Guridi to connect midfield with attack, while Toni Martínez and Ibrahim Diabaté provide the forward threat. The likely approach is pragmatic rather than expansive, with little reason to expect them to abandon the shape that has served them well.
Tactical battle
The key battle is likely to be Oviedo’s wide attacking play against Alavés’ wing-back and back-three protection. If the hosts can stretch the pitch and create better delivery into the box, they may finally find a route through.
Alavés, though, will be content to keep the game narrow and force Oviedo into repeated attacks from deeper areas. That should suit the visitors if they can keep their distances tight and turn the contest into a low-scoring, stop-start affair.
Recent meetings
The sides met on 04 January 2026 and finished level at 1-1, a result that fits the sense of two teams who are often closely matched and difficult to separate.
Reporter’s view
This looks like a fixture where structure may matter more than ambition. Oviedo have home support and no injury problems, but their recent lack of goals makes it hard to see them dominating a well-drilled Alavés side for long periods.
Alavés appear better equipped to manage the rhythm of the match, especially if they can keep Oviedo at arm’s length and wait for openings on the break. A tight, cautious contest feels the most likely outcome, with the visitors slightly better placed to leave with something.
Prediction
A narrow, low-scoring draw looks the most likely outcome, with Alavés’ organisation making them the more reliable side over 90 minutes.
