Sports Mole previews Sunday’s La Liga clash between Las Palmas and Alaves, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Las Palmas and Alaves face off in the concluding gameweek of the La Liga season at Estadio Gran Canaria on Sunday, keen to end their campaigns on a winning note.
While Granada were not quite lucky to retain their top-flight status after promotion, the two other clubs that came up are assured of playing top-tier football next term before this weekend’s clash.
Match preview
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The pressure is off Las Palmas before gameweek 38’s fixture against Alaves, having flirted with relegation for the season’s entirety, with six points separating them from Cadiz in 18th heading into the final day.
Garcia Pimienta managed to keep his position at the helm of the first team despite the team’s struggles throughout a challenging return to the top division, underlined by an extended sequence without winning.
Pio Pio last tasted victory in La Liga in February, a 2-0 home triumph over Valencia, and have since been defeated nine times in 13 league fixtures, securing four draws.
Their inability to find the back of the net has been apparent, as nine of their 13 games without winning have seen Los Amarillos fire blanks, including a goalless encounter against relegated Cadiz last time out.
Only two clubs — Rayo Vallecano (29) and Cadiz (25) — have scored fewer goals than Las Palmas’ 32 in 2023-24 and only Granada (24) and Almeria (23) — both of whom have been relegated — have lost more matches than Pimienta’s troops (18), summing up the home side’s struggles in their first season back.
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While Las Palmas could count themselves fortunate to have stayed up on their La Liga return, the same cannot be said about mid-table Alaves, who go into Sunday’s encounter keen to retain their position in the competition’s top half.
Luis Garcia Plaza‘s men were promoted via the playoffs, but they significantly outperformed Granada and Las Palmas in the top flight, underscored by their current league position.
El Glorioso aim to end in the top 10 for the first time since Mauricio Pellegrino guided the club to ninth in 2016-17, after ending 14th, 11th, 16th in consecutive seasons and 20th in the following campaigns.
That can be achieved if they beat their 15th-placed hosts, regardless of Osasuna and Getafe’s results against Villarreal and Mallorca, respectively, in the concluding round.
Alaves’ superior head-to-head against ninth-placed Valencia — they defeated Los Ches 1-0 in both meetings this term — means Babazorros could even match their 2016-17 exploits if they win on Sunday and Valencia lose at in-form Celta Vigo.
Notwithstanding Sunday’s result, this term should be regarded as a success for the promoted side.
Las Palmas La Liga form:
Alaves La Liga form:
Team News
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Daley Sinkgraven and Julian Araujo are doubtful for Sunday’s game, with the latter struggling with a thigh issue.
In such a low-scoring season for Pimienta’s men, Kirian Rodriguez (six) has outscored his teammates, even if he has not netted since February 25’s draw with Osasuna.
Alaves’ Carlos Benavidez, Nahuel Tenaglia and Antonio Blanco are all suspended for the final day after picking up bookings in last week’s 1-0 win over Getafe.
Aleksandar Sedlar (knee) has not played since November, and the centre-back remains out of action for the 10th-placed side. Rafa Marin missed the away side’s gameweek 37 victory because of a stomach issue but is seemingly set to return at centre-back.
Samu Omorodion could start up top for Plaza’s men despite not finding the net since February, replacing Kike Garcia who was withdrawn because of injury last time out.
Las Palmas possible starting lineup:
Valles; Suarez, Coco, Marmol, Cardona; Loiodice, Rodriguez, Moleiro; Park, Ramirez, El Haddadi
Alaves possible starting lineup:
Owono; Gorosabel, Marin, Abqar, Lopez; Hagi, Guevara; Vicente, Guridi, Simeone; Omorodion
We say: Las Palmas 0-1 Alaves
Despite winning the reverse fixture 1-0, Las Palmas’ inability to find the net consistently could count against them on Sunday, with the hosts failing to score in four of their last five matches in front of their fans.
Alaves, on the other hand, have netted in their last six visits to Gran Canaria and have claimed maximum points in four of their last six road games, possibly pointing to a fifth win in seven on their travels to close out the season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.