Alavés Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Sivera (Fernández) · Jony Otto · Tenaglia (Maras) · Garces (Pacheco) · Diarra (Parada Enriquez) · Blanco (Protesoni) · Ibañez (Guevara) · Guridi (Calebe) · T. Martínez (Boye Mariano) · C.Vicente · Denis (Aleña Rebbach)

Alavés relies on a low block and quick transitions, utilizing a 5-4-1 formation. This lineup is built to sit deep and deny space to the opposition while preparing to hit on the break. The goal is to stay hard to beat and use the width of the pitch only when moving forward.

Sivera guards the goal as the last line of defense. The defensive unit operates in a back five with Blanco acting as the central anchor. Tenaglia and Garces play as the wide center backs to provide cover and strength in the air. Jony Otto and Diarra push up as wing backs to stretch the pitch when the team wins the ball. This defensive line stays compact to prevent through balls and force the opponent to play wide.

In the middle of the pitch, Ibañez sits as a single pivot to shield the defense. Guridi and Denis occupy the central roles, working to win the second ball and connect the defensive lines to the attack. Guridi helps to recycle possession while Denis drives the team forward. C.Vicente operates as an attacking ten behind the striker, looking to find pockets of space between the lines. This midfield block works to press in a mid-block and deny the opponent time on the ball.

The attack relies on T. Martínez playing as a lone striker. He must hold up the ball and wait for his teammates to join the move, looking to find runs in behind or link up play with C.Vicente. When the team wins possession, the wing backs Jony Otto and Diarra will quickly spread wide to provide crossing options. The team aims to move the ball quickly through the thirds to catch the opposition out of position.

This 5-4-1 formation offers Alavés great compactness when defending. By keeping the lines close together, they make it very difficult for opponents to play through the middle. The presence of five defenders provides a safety net that allows the wing backs to push higher during transitions without leaving the center too exposed. This creates a platform for quick counter attacks where they can exploit space behind the opposition back line.

This lineup is a defensive masterclass designed for teams that want to frustrate possession-heavy opponents. It is best suited for matches where Alavés needs to defend a lead or play against a team that dominates the ball.