Alavés Football Formation

Starting Lineup

1. Sivera
17. Otto
14. Tenaglia
5. Pacheco
24. Parada
8. Blanco
20. Calebe
19. PabloIbáñez
4. DenisSuárez
21. Rebbach
11. ToniMartínez

A heavy emphasis on defensive solidity and rapid transitions defines Alavés as they operate in a 5-4-1 formation. This lineup is built to sit deep and absorb pressure before launching quick vertical attacks. The team focuses on being hard to break down, using a compact block to deny space between the lines.

Sivera stays between the posts to organize the back five. The central defensive unit consists of Blanco, Tenaglia, and Pacheco, who work to maintain a tight block and win aerial duels. Tenaglia and Pacheco act as the main markers in the central zone, while Blanco provides cover. On the flanks, Otto and Parada act as wing backs, tasked with tracking back to support the defense and providing width during transitions. This defensive unit must stay disciplined to prevent gaps from opening up in the central area.

The midfield operates as a flat four to protect the defensive line. PabloIbáñez and DenisSuárez sit in the central roles to shield the back three and intercept passes. PabloIbáñez works to break the line with his passing, while DenisSuárez provides more movement to connect the defense to the attack. Calebe and Rebbach occupy the wide areas, acting as midfielders who must track back to help the wing backs while also looking to push forward during counter attacks.

In the attacking phase, ToniMartínez operates as a lone striker. His primary job is to hold up the ball and wait for support from the advancing midfield. The attack relies on the wide players, Calebe and Rebbach, to provide service via crosses or through balls. When the team wins the ball back, the movement is designed to get ToniMartínez into one on one situations or create space for the midfielders to run into the final third.

One major strength of this Alavés lineup is the compactness when defending in a low block. The narrowness of the five defenders and the midfield four makes it very difficult for opponents to play through the middle. Another advantage is the ability to exploit the space behind opposition full backs through the speed of transition. When Otto or Parada step up, they can create wide overloads that catch the opponent off guard.

This formation provides a reliable way to frustrate teams that dominate possession. It is best suited for matches against superior opponents where staying compact and hitting on the break is the priority.