Alavés Football Formation

Starting Lineup

1. Sivera
7. Perez
17. Otto
14. Tenaglia
24. Parada
19. Ibañez
8. Blanco
18. Guridi
21. Rebbach
11. Martinez
22. Diabate

Alavés utilizes a 4-4-2 formation designed for a direct and vertical style of play. This lineup focuses on staying compact to deny space in the middle while looking to launch quick attacks once the ball is won. The goal is to remain hard to break down and use the width of the pitch to stretch the opposition.

Sivera starts between the posts to manage the defense from the back. The back line consists of a flat back four featuring Perez at right back and Parada at left back. Otto operates as the right sided center back while Tenaglia covers the left side of the central defense. Perez and Parada are tasked to overlap when the ball moves wide, while Otto and Tenaglia must hold their position to prevent long balls from breaking the line. This defensive unit works to sit deep and keep the distances between players small.

The midfield operates in two banks of four to control the center of the pitch. Blanco sits in the single pivot role to shield the defense and intercept passes. Guridi and Rebbach work to drive forward into the final third, providing energy and ball progression. Ibañez completes the midfield unit to connect the lines and link the defense to the strikers. This grouping helps the team shift side to side to track runs and maintain a solid block.

Alavés employs two forwards to lead the press and occupy the opponent defenders. Diabate and Martinez act as the two primary attackers to provide a central presence in the box. The two forwards are expected to press high to force mistakes and then run into space behind the defense. By having two players up front, the team can use quick passes to break the lines and create chances through central runs or crosses from the wide areas.

This formation offers several tactical advantages for Alavés. The two banks of four create great compactness when defending in a low block, making it difficult for opponents to play through the middle. The presence of two strikers allows for quick transitions and the ability to isolate defenders in one on one situations. Additionally, the midfield can provide numerical superiority in the central zones when they push up to support the attack.

This 4-4-2 formation provides a reliable way to remain defensively solid and strike on the break. It is best suited for games against teams that dominate possession where Alavés can sit deep and exploit the space behind the opposition defense.