Alavés Football Formation

Starting Lineup

1. Sivera
14. Tenaglia
2. Garcés
4. Sedlar
3. ManuSánchez
7. CVicente
23. Benavidez
8. ABlanco
21. Aleñá
18. Guridi
17. KikeGarcía

Alavés relies on a very compact and hard to break down identity. They employ a 4-4-2 formation designed to stay disciplined and strike on the break. This lineup works best when the team sits deep to deny space between the lines and waits for the right moment to go direct.

Sivera stands between the posts to command the area. The defense is a flat back four with Tenaglia on the right and ManuSánchez on the left. Garcés and Sedlar occupy the central spots to defend zonally and win the header when balls come into the box. Tenaglia and ManuSánchez must hold the line and track back to ensure the team stays narrow when the opponent attacks. The defensive unit functions to keep the distance between the back four and the midfield bank very small.

The midfield functions as a bank of four to control the center of the pitch. Benavidez and ABlanco operate as a double pivot to shield the defense and win the second ball. ABlanco looks to recycle possession while Benavidez works to intercept passes in the middle. On the flanks, CVicente and Aleñá provide the width. Aleñá uses his passing range to switch play and find the wingers, while CVicente must track back to help the right back. This midfield group works to squeeze the space and prevent the opposition from playing through the thirds.

In the final third, the team uses two forwards in a partnership to pressure the opposition. KikeGarcía and Guridi lead the line and must press the opposition back line to force a long ball. KikeGarcía often works to hold up the ball to allow the midfielders to move up, while Guridi looks to make runs in behind. The attack relies on the width from Aleñá and CVicente to stretch the defense. When the ball is progressed, the forwards look to combine in tight spaces or receive the ball to run at the defense.

One major advantage for Deportivo Alavés is the ability to maintain compactness when defending in a mid-block. The narrowness of the four midfielders makes it very difficult for opponents to find passing lanes through the center. Additionally, the team possesses great speed of transition. Once Benavidez or ABlanco win the ball, they can quickly look to split the defense with a through ball for the forwards.

This 4-4-2 is a battle hardened formation that focuses on defensive stability. It is most effective when facing possession based teams that struggle to break down a low block.