Deportivo Alavés vs Villarreal - Predictions, Stats & Odds

In a tightly contested La Liga encounter, Deportivo Alavés and Villarreal played out a 1-1 draw on Friday, 13 March 2026. The match, part of Gameweek 28, saw both teams share the spoils in a game that was evenly matched throughout. The first half saw Deportivo Alavés take the lead through Rafa Marín (GAP +1.4%) in the 40th minute, giving the home side a crucial advantage heading into the break. Villarreal, however, responded in the dying moments of the match with Nicolas Pépé (GAP +2.4%) finding the back of the net in the 90th minute to secure a point for the visitors. Tactically, both teams set up to control the midfield, with Villarreal's Pape Gueye (GAP +3.4%) and Santi Comesaña (GAP +3.1%) playing pivotal roles in maintaining possession and dictating the tempo. Deportivo Alavés, on the other hand, relied heavily on their defensive organization, with Antonio Sivera (GAP -0.7%) making several key saves to keep his team in the game. In terms of lineup changes, both managers made strategic adjustments. Deportivo Alavés introduced Abde Rebbach, Jon Guridi, Carlos Ballestero, and Ville Koski as substitutes, while Villarreal brought on Gerard Moreno, Thomas Partey, Alberto Moleiro, Alexander Freeman, and Tanitoluwa Oluwaseyi. These changes were aimed at injecting fresh energy into the game as both teams sought to find a winner. The result leaves both teams in a similar position in the league table, with Deportivo Alavés continuing to hover around mid-table security, while Villarreal remains in contention for European qualification spots. This draw reflects the competitive nature of La Liga this season, where every point is fiercely contested. Post-match reactions highlighted the resilience of Villarreal to salvage a point late in the game, while Deportivo Alavés will be ruing their missed opportunity to secure all three points at home. Both teams will look to build on this result in their upcoming fixtures as the season approaches its climax.