Two Clubs Without a Win: Alaves Host La Coruña in La Liga's Battle of Struggling Sides

Saturday lunchtime in Vitoria-Gasteiz. Two clubs, zero wins between them in recent La Liga action, and a crowd that deserves better than what both teams have been serving up. Alaves host La Coruña at 13:00 UK time and the honest question is whether either side has enough desire to actually go and win a football match.

Alaves: No Wins, No Goals to Speak Of

Listen, the numbers for Alaves are grim. Five La Liga matches, no wins, two draws and three losses. Three goals scored. Six conceded. That is not a team going through a rough patch. That is a team with a serious attitude problem when it comes to competing for the full ninety minutes.

The thing is, Alaves drew 0-0 with Athletic Club and then lost 0-1 to Valencia in back-to-back matches without scoring at all. They have managed just one goal in each of their last three outings, losses to Atletico Madrid and Celta Vigo sandwiched around a draw with Malaga. A clean sheet percentage of twenty. That tells you the defence is not doing its job. End of.

They are also carrying injury problems. Two moderate injuries in the squad, one of which has an expected return date as far out as May 2027. That is a long-term absence that will hurt any squad at any level. You manage it or you make excuses. Alaves cannot afford excuses right now.

La Coruña: Draws All Day, Clean Sheets Never

La Coruña have a slightly different problem. They are not losing every week. Three draws and two losses across their last five La Liga matches. But here is what stands out. La Coruña have not kept a single clean sheet in those five games. Zero. Their clean sheet percentage is nil and they have conceded seven goals in that sample.

Listen, you cannot build anything on a defence that leaks every single game. La Coruña drew 1-1 with Levante, drew 1-1 with Real Betis, drew 1-1 with Getafe. Three times they scored. Three times they gave it straight back. That is not competing. That is treading water and calling it a result.

They lost 2-3 to Real Sociedad and 0-1 to Sevilla in their two defeats. Both-teams-to-score has landed in four of their last five La Liga matches. The back line is not doing the basics. It is really that simple.

The Verdict

The thing is, when two sides with this kind of form meet, the match rarely produces a thriller. What it usually produces is a scrappy, anxious contest where nobody wants to make the mistake that costs them. Both sets of players know the pressure they are under. Both sets know their recent results are unacceptable.

Alaves have home advantage and La Coruña's inability to keep a clean sheet is a real concern for them on the road. But Alaves have only scored three goals in five La Liga matches. They are not exactly a team bursting with confidence in front of goal either.

This has draw written all over it. Both teams competing just enough not to lose. Neither finding the standards required to actually win. It would be entirely on brand for both clubs right now. If you are watching this one, you want accountability. You want someone to stand up and demand three points. Whether that person exists in either dressing room is the real question on Saturday.