Racing Santander vs Alaves — Tips & Analysis

Alaves +0.25: Racing have not beaten Alaves in five attempts, and three of those games finished level. The most recent was a 1-1 last month, and those five meetings averaged 2 goals in total. Alaves are the better side right now as well. They sit 2nd in La Liga on 10 points from four games, with Racing 13th on 4 points. Alaves have won 7, tied 5 and lost 4 of their last 16, and they lost by 2 or more goals in only 1 of those 16. They have also been giving up very little in their recent games. Racing have won 8, tied 3 and lost 3 of their last 14, so they are no pushover at home. Their eye catching home scoring comes mostly from second tier games last season, when they beat Cadiz 4-1, Valladolid 4-1 and Huesca 4-2. This is a much tougher opponent. Expect a tight game with few clear openings at either end. A 1-1 is the likeliest finish again, and Alaves avoiding defeat is all we are asking for. The worry is the ground. Racing are unbeaten in seven home games, with 6 wins and 1 tie, and they will back themselves to score. Alaves are also without F. Garces, who is suspended, and M. Rodriguez with an ankle problem. We still trust the away side to leave with something.