Valencia arrive at Mendizorroza in freefall. Back-to-back defeats — a 0-1 loss to Sevilla followed by a humiliating 0-5 thrashing at the hands of Barcelona — have left the visitors reeling and desperately searching for answers. With zero goals scored across their last two outings and nine conceded, Valencia's confidence is fragile, and that vulnerability will be the defining storyline when they face Alavés on September 15.

The hosts, however, are hardly a picture of consistency themselves. Alavés suffered a 1-2 home defeat to Santander before producing an electrifying 5-2 demolition of Osasuna. That wild swing between a disappointing loss and an attacking masterclass makes them difficult to predict, but the Osasuna result proved that Alavés possess serious firepower when their forwards click. The question is which version of the Basque side will turn up.

The key battle in this fixture could be Alavés' attack against Valencia's battered defence. Conceding five to Barcelona and failing to keep a clean sheet against Sevilla exposes structural weaknesses at the back that Alavés will look to exploit, particularly on home turf where their fans can drive them forward. On the other side, Valencia's attacking unit must rediscover some composure; they have been shut out in consecutive matches, and breaking down even an inconsistent Alavés rearguard will require significantly more cutting edge than they have shown of late.

What is at stake extends beyond three points. For Valencia, another defeat would deepen a crisis that is already testing patience among supporters and could pile pressure on the coaching staff. For Alavés, a home win following the Osasuna rout would signal genuine momentum and the ability to string results together — something that has eluded them so far this season.

Given Alavés' explosive showing against Osasuna and the home advantage at Mendizorroza, combined with Valencia's dismal recent form and defensive frailties, a home win looks the most likely outcome. Expect Alavés to target Valencia's backline early and often. The prediction here is a 2-0 or 2-1 victory for Alavés, though with both sides' inconsistency, nothing can be taken for granted.