ALAVÉS NEWS

Luis Rioja - Scores lone team goal Rioja scored one goal to go with one shot (one on target), four crosses (zero accurate) and one chance created in Tuesday's 1-1 draw against Real Sociedad.

Impact Rioja scored his second goal of the season to give the team the draw Tuesday. It was also his 12th straight start, logging in a goal and an assist on 61 crosses (14 accurate), 28 shots (10 on target) and 15 chances created in that span.

JANUARY 3 • ROTOWIRE

Antonio Sivera - Four saves in draw Sivera recorded four saves and allowed one goal in Tuesday's 1-1 draw versus Real Sociedad. In addition, he was given a yellow card in the 87th minute.

Impact Sivera opens the new year with four saves, while also allowing a goal Tuesday, He's conceded six goals in the last four matches with nine saves in that span. The keeper will head to Sevilla for the next La Liga game on Jan 12, who have scored just four in the last five contests.

JANUARY 3 • ROTOWIRE

Giuliano Simeone - Available for first time Simeone (lower leg) is in the lineup for Tuesday's match against Real Sociedad.

Impact Simeone is in line to make his season debut with the team after missing the first half with a lower leg injury. He will also look to make his La Liga debut with Alaves, having last played with Atletico Madrid.

JANUARY 2 • ROTOWIRE

Abdel Abqar - Selected for African Cup of Nations Abqar was named to the Morocco squad ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations, Deportivo Alaves announced Thursday.

Impact Abqar's call-up will likely see him miss at least three fixtures, though he should be available against Real Sociedad on Tuesday. The central defender has started all 14 of his La Liga appearances for the club this season and leaves a significant gap in the backline, one that may be filled by Nahuel Tenaglia.

DECEMBER 28, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Unai Ropero - Signs contract extension Ropero agreed to terms on a contract extension with Deportivo Alaves on Wednesday that runs through 2028.

Impact Ropero has played just five minutes with the senior team this season but has featured more prominently with the youth team. For Deportivo Alaves B, the forward has scored 10 times in 15 matches (13 starts) and should see more opportunities in the future.

DECEMBER 27, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Luis Rioja - Delivers eight crosses in defeat Rioja generated four shots (zero on goal), eight crosses (zero accurate) and two corners in Thursday's 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid.

Impact Rioja was active offensively, as he led the team in both shots taken and crosses delivered. However, neither his crosses nor his shots were on the mark, as he failed to create a goal-scoring opportunity in the contest. Despite constantly taking a high amount of shots, the attacker has only scored once this season.

DECEMBER 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Antonio Sivera - Concedes once in defeat Sivera had three saves and allowed one goal in Thursday's 1-0 defeat versus Real Madrid.

Impact Sivera was unfortunate as he conceded a goal in the 92nd minute following a header that ended up deciding the contest. Prior to the late goal, the goalkeeper had a strong effort with three saves. Next, he'll face off against Real Sociedad, a team with 29 goals in 18 games.

DECEMBER 23, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ruben Duarte - Tagged with one-game suspension Duarte picked up his fifth yellow card and will be suspended for the Jan. 2 matchup against Real Sociedad once the league resumes following the Christmas break.

Impact Duarte lasted 59 minutes against Real Madrid, but he had to deal with Rodrygo and Brahim Diaz defensively, so it wasn't surprising to see him getting booked. The fifth yellow card means he'll miss the matchup against Sociedad, but he should be eligible to return against Sevilla on Jan. 12.

DECEMBER 22, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Abdel Abqar - Clears suspension Abqar has served his one match suspension and is set to be an option for Thursday's match against Real Madrid.

Impact Abqar is expected to return to the lineup after missing last match through suspension. He's started his previous eight games in a row, logging in 40 clearances in that span.

DECEMBER 20, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ander Guevara - Creates three chances in loss Guevara placed one shot (not on-target) and created three chances in Monday's 3-0 defeat by Girona.

Impact Guevara was one of the brighter lights in a disappointing Alaves team on Monday that was dismantled by Girona. This was his return following a suspension for five yellows. He was a key playmaker creating three chances, firing a shot and in defensive duties managing four tackles and an interception. The regular starting midfielder has scored once but is yet to provide an assist.

DECEMBER 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ander Guevara - Creates three chances in loss Guevara placed one shot (not on-target) and created three chances in Monday's 3-0 defeat by Girona.

Impact Guevara was one of the brighter lights in a disappointing Alaves team on Monday that was dismantled by Girona. This was his return following a suspension for five yellows. He was a key playmaker creating three chances, firing a shot and in defensive duties managing four tackles and an interception. The regular starting midfielder has scored once but is yet to provide an assist.

DECEMBER 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Samuel Omorodion - One on-target effort in loss Samu had one shot-on-target in Monday's 3-0 loss against Girona.

Impact Samu, along with his Alaves teammates, struggled on Monday as they were dominated by an in-form Girona team. Not surprisingly he was subbed after 73. He provided his team's best chance to get on the scoresheet with a headed effort that was denied only by excellent goalkeeping from Paulo Gazzaniga. From 16 appearances (9 starts) he has scored five and will likely be challenged to get on the scoresheet in Alaves's next against an in-form Real Madrid side.

DECEMBER 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Antonio Sivera - Concedes trio in defeat Sivera recorded one save and conceded three goals in Monday's 3-0 defeat by Girona.

Impact Sivera was not at his best on Monday, managing to stop only one of the four shots he faced on-target. He will need to step up his game in Alaves's next against Real Madrid; Los Blancos have won four of their last five La Liga encounters. The regular starter has conceded 23 (1.4 per game), delivered three clean sheets and completed 43 saves (2.5 per game, 65 per cent, currently one of the poorest records in La Liga).

DECEMBER 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Antonio Sivera - Concedes trio in defeat Sivera recorded one save and conceded three goals in Monday's 3-0 defeat by Girona.

Impact Sivera was not at his best on Monday, managing to stop only one of the four shots he faced on-target. He will need to step up his game in Alaves's next against Real Madrid; Los Blancos have won four of their last five La Liga encounters. The regular starter has conceded 23 (1.4 per game), delivered three clean sheets and completed 43 saves (2.5 per game, 65 per cent, currently one of the poorest records in La Liga).

DECEMBER 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Girona back on top of Spanish league after beating Alaves

Girona has returned to the top of the Spanish league after a 3-0 victory over mid-table Alaves

DECEMBER 18, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Aleksandar Sedlar - Signs one-year contract extension Sedlar has signed a one-year contract extension with Alaves until the end of the 2024/25 season, the club announced Friday.

Impact Sedlar is set to miss the rest of the 2023/24 campaign after suffering a torn ACL back in November, but the club is committed to his recovery and has decided to extend his tenure for another year. That way, Sedlar will be able to fully recover from the injury and return to the field donning Alaves' colors. Sedlar started in his 11 appearances this season before suffering the season-ending injury against Almeria on Nov. 5.

DECEMBER 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Giuliano Simeone - Involved in team training Simeone (lower leg) returned to team training Thursday ahead of Monday's match against Girona.

Impact Simeone was back with the team training on Thursday, nearing a return after missing every match up to this point with a leg injury. The attacker could break into the squad list for the club at any point now as he eyes a return before the end of the year. If that is not Monday against Girona, then it will have to be against Real Madrid next Thursday, as that will be the club's final match before the new year.

DECEMBER 14, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Antonio Sivera - Inks contract extension Sivera signed a three-year contract extension to remain with Alaves, the club announced Wednesday.

Impact Sivera will be remaining with Alaves for another three years, signing an extension until June 2027. The goalie has been with the club for the past nine seasons, taking over the starting role the past two campaigns, where he has registered a total of 87 matches with the first team. He looks to be their main option in net for the next few seasons after signing the extension Wednesday.

DECEMBER 13, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ander Guevara - Back from suspension Guevara completed a one-game ban and will be eligible to face Girona on Dec. 18.

Impact Guevara missed the match against Las Palmas due to yellow-card accumulation, but he's ready to return. Given he has been in the starting lineup in every game for Alaves before the suspension, he should slot right back into the starting XI.

DECEMBER 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Abdel Abqar - Won't face Girona Abqar received his fifth yellow card of the season against Las Palmas on Dec. 9 and will be suspended to face Girona this weekend.

Impact Abqar was booked in each of Alaves' last five matches, and with the defender reaching five yellows, he's now set for one match on the sidelines -- an issue for Alaves since the 24-year-old has been a regular starter for them all season long. Abqar should be eligible to return against Real Madrid on Dec. 21 in the last game of the calendar year for Alaves.

DECEMBER 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Javi Lopez - Decent in loss Lopez recorded two shots (zero on goal) and four crosses (one accurate) in Saturday's 1-0 defeat against Las Palmas.

Impact Lopez registered his fifth straight start on Saturday after only being a bench option for the first six games of the season, registering four crosses and two shots in the loss. The defender has registered two assists since taking over the starting role, with those coming in back-to-back games.

DECEMBER 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Ianis Hagi - Whips in four crosses Hagi recorded one shot (zero on goal), four crosses (one accurate) and two corners in Saturday's 1-0 loss to Las Palmas.

Impact Hagi was given the start on Saturday, whipping in four crosses and creating two chances in his 63 minutes of play. The midfielder has only started six times all season, registering 32 crosses, 18 shots and 15 chances created in his 12 appearances.

DECEMBER 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Luis Rioja - Leads match in crosses Rioja recorded one shot (zero on goal), 10 crosses (five accurate) and six corners in Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Las Palmas.

Impact Rioja had a match-high in crosses Saturday and tied his season high, whipping in 10 during the loss. The attacker has only missed one start all season, notching 89 crosses and 22 chances created during the campaign.

DECEMBER 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Kike Garcia - Three shots in loss Kike recorded three shots (three on goal) and one chance created in Saturday's 1-0 defeat versus Las Palmas.

Impact Kike only featured for a minuscule 13 minutes in Saturday's loss, registering three shots and one chance created against Las Palmas. The forward seems to have lost his starting spot after looking like a regular at the start of the season and will hope to gain that spot back after four straight matches on the bench, having last scored in the club's third match of the season against Sevilla.

DECEMBER 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Samuel Omorodion - Slow day in loss Samu had three shots (one on goal) in Saturday's 1-0 loss versus Las Palmas.

Impact Samu played a full 90 minutes Saturday but wasn't all that productive, only firing in three shots in the loss. The forward has now gone scoreless in his past two matches after registering a goal in consecutive games and will hope to maintain his starting spot despite a slow couple of weeks, as he was not the normal starter until about seven matches ago for the club.

DECEMBER 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE