Sure Prediction For Today, Tuesday 29th October 2019

Goals from Saul Niguez and Alvaro Morata ensured that Atletico Madrid took full advantage of the El Clasico postponement to move bang into contention at the head of affairs in La Liga, and although they may be shuffled down from 2^nd to 3^rd on Sunday if Granada beat Betis at Los Carmenes, Los Rojiblancos will definitely go top, albeit temporarily, with a win over Alaves on Tuesday evening.

Atleti are of course a team well renowned for their efficiency and for just doing enough in the majority of their games. Indeed, stretching back to the start of the 2018/19 season, they have only won four La Liga fixtures by more than a two-goal margin. Two of those successes came against Huesca who were relegated last term, and the other two came against this week’s opponents Alaves.

Diego Simeone’s side cruised to 3-0 and 0-4 victories in both meetings last season, results which are likely to be fresh in the memory of Alaves going into this Matchday 11 clash. And if the apprehension based on recent meetings wasn’t enough, Alaves have to deal with this stern Atleti team and a quick turnaround following a 4-1 hiding against Villarreal at Estadio de la Ceramica on Friday night.

The result marked Alaves’ fifth defeat of the campaign already and their fourth from five games on the road – form which has left them just two points above the relegation zone in 14^th – a position which could worsen on Sunday depending on how the remaining Matchday 10 fixtures play out.

A clear positive for Alaves is that they have been strong at Mendizorroza so far this season; Babazorros have won their last two outings here 2-0 against Celta Vigo and Mallorca, taking their home points tally to ten from five matches.

Their sole defeat here against Sevilla (0-1) on Matchday 4 was further evidence of Alaves’ limitations though, and it’s hard to envisage Asier Garitano’s side being good enough to claim anything from this clash against a watertight Atleti side, whose only defeat in 13 matches in all competitions this season came against an inspired Real Sociedad at Anoeta in mid-September.

Atleti have kept seven clean sheets in their ten La Liga games, conceding just five times in total, and we fancy Simeone’s charges to win this contest to nil as they have managed to do in the previous four meetings between the teams.

Alaves have scored an average of one goal per game at Mendizorroza but this is the most proficient backline they will encounter all season, so it’s easy to think that the visitors can shut them out. Whilst Madrid inflicted two hammerings last term, we expect it to be a bit closer this time, affording some respect to Alaves’ tidy record at home, so our prediction is an away win or a draw for Atletico Madrid.