Deportivo Alavés welcome Málaga CF to Mendizorrotza on 23 October 2026 for La Liga Matchday 10, with the hosts sitting seventh on 11 points and desperate to end a five match winless run that has kept them out of the European places. Málaga arrive rooted to the bottom on four points, still without a win since promotion and five days removed from a 5-2 hammering by Real Sociedad. Quique Sánchez Flores and Juan Francisco Funes have no recorded prior meetings in competitive football, so this is their first as opposing managers in a competitive fixture.
Alavés have collected just two points from their last five league games, capped by a 2-1 defeat at Celta Vigo on 18 October, their form line reading L-L-D-L-L. Málaga's sequence is equally grim at D-L-L-D-L, the heavy loss to Sociedad the starkest evidence yet that Funes has not found answers at either end.
Quique Sánchez Flores, appointed on 3 March 2026 to replace Eduardo Coudet, is without Mikel Rodríguez (cruciate) and the suspended Facundo Garcés, a double absence that thins both defensive and midfield cover. Funes has his own injury list: Julen Lobete is out with a knee injury, Joaquín is sidelined by a soleus problem and Juan Cruz is doubtful with a muscle issue. Losing Lobete leaves Funes short of options out wide and with Cruz uncertain he may have to reshuffle his central defence.
Quique's Alavés typically shift between a back three and a back four depending on the opposition and set pieces are their most reliable route to goal. Lucas Boyé leads the line with five goals this season and should find space against a Málaga high line that was torn apart last weekend. Toni Martínez gives him a second forward option, Carles Aleñá controls tempo from midfield and Antonio Blanco's interception numbers make him a difficult player to play through centrally, while Nahuel Tenaglia adds width and a defensive layer out on the right.
Málaga have been undone repeatedly by poor finishing and soft goals at the back. Adrián Niño and Chupete are their main outlets on the break, though between them they have managed little in front of goal this season. Carlos Puga contributes on the right, with José Salinas and Einar Galilea anchoring the defence. Funes will probably opt for a compact 4-4-2 that prioritises shape over possession, because Lobete's absence leaves him without reliable wide runners and Cruz's fitness remains unresolved.
If Blanco can win the ball quickly and feed Aleñá, Boyé and Martínez should have time to combine before Málaga's back line can organise. Niño's pace complicates that picture and it will test whoever Quique fields at right centre back with Garcés suspended. Rodríguez and Garcés both absent is the one specific problem Alavés cannot paper over.
Alavés are unbeaten in their last six league meetings with Málaga, winning four and set pieces should be a recurring source of danger. Quique may push Tenaglia and Blanco forward at corners to add numbers in the box now that Rodríguez and Garcés are unavailable and Málaga's zonal marking has been vulnerable to deliveries from wide positions in recent weeks. Málaga's clearest path to a positive result is through fast transitions before Alavés can organise their low block but losing both Joaquín and Lobete removes their only reliable runners in behind, forcing reliance on central combinations that Alavés have shown they can handle.
Alavés to win 2-1, with Boyé opening the scoring from open play and Aleñá adding a second before Niño pulls one back on the counter. With Blanco and Aleñá against a Málaga midfield missing cover, Alavés should control the second half, though Niño's pace will test whoever Quique fields at right centre back in Garcés' absence.
Ryan Baldi
Football Writer
Ryan Baldi is a professional football writer with years of experience and has been featured by respected outlets such as the BBC, The Guardian, Sky Sports, DAZN, FourFourTwo, ESPN, Yahoo Sport and Football365. He has also written several books including Arsène Who?.
