Deportivo Alavés faces Real Sociedad this Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 4:15 pm (Vitoria-Gasteiz local time), at Estádio of Mendizorroza, for the 15th round of LaLiga. Ambas teams are looking for points to improve their positions in the table, with Alavés in 14th place with 15 points and Real Sociedad in 10th with 16 points. The clash, led by referee Javier Alberola Rojas, promises intensity in a traditional Basque derby.
The match takes place amid a sequence of mixed results for both teams, who need victories to advance in the competition. Eduardo Coudet, coach of Alavés, is betting on a solid defense at home, while Sergio Francisco, of Real Sociedad, prioritizes creative attack. Live transmission is provided by channels such as ESPN 2 and Disney+, allowing fans to follow all the action.
- Alavés: 4 wins, 3 draws and 7 defeats so far.
- Real Sociedad: 4 wins, 4 draws and 6 defeats in the season.
- Recent history: Alavés won the last meeting 2-1.
Line-ups confirmed for the clash
Alavés enters the field with a 4-1-4-1 formation, prioritizing balance between defense and midfield. Antonio Sivera defends the goal, with Jon Otto, Nicolás Tenaglia, Javier Pacheco and Víctor Parada in the line of four. Ander Guevara acts as an isolated midfielder, supported by Calebe, Pablo Ibáñez and Diego Suárez in the middle, while Abdel Abqar and Lucas Boyé lead the attack.
Real Sociedad responds with an offensive 4-4-2, aiming to explore the flanks. Álex Remiro is the goalkeeper, followed by Jon Aramburu, Jon Martin, Asier Elustondo and Sergio Gómez in defense. In midfield, Takefusa Kubo, Jon Gorrotxategi, Carlos Soler and Gonçalo Guedes create plays, with Umar Sadiq and Brais Méndez up front.
These choices reflect recent tactical adjustments, with Alavés focusing on quick transitions and Real Sociedad on ball possession.
Game-changing embezzlements
Antonio Blanco is suspended on Alavés, opening space for Guevara in contention. Facundo Garcés is also out due to suspension, forcing Pacheco to centralize the defense. Yangel Herrera is recovering from injury and does not play, while coach Coudet is counting on the return of Carles Aleñá on the bench.
In Real Sociedad, Mikel Oyarzabal and Igor Zubeldia are injured, impacting the creative midfield. Orri Steinn Óskarsson remains out, and Jon Karrikaburu is unconfirmed, which elevates the responsibility of Kubo and Sadiq in the attack.
These absentees change the dynamics, with Alavés more defensive and Real Sociedad relying on reserves like Pablo Marín.
Suspension of Blanco weakens the Alavesista marking. Lesão of Oyarzabal reduces offensive options in Real. Aleñá on the bench can come in to change the rhythm.
Individual highlights on the field
Carlos The 26-year-old striker, with a high market value, faced Real Sociedad in 14 matches, scoring twice. Sua speed on the wings can unbalance the visiting defense.
Umar Sadiq, from Real Sociedad, responds with 65% dribbling accuracy and 3 recent assists. The 28-year-old Nigerian shines in aerial duels and has already scored against Alavés in past clashes. Sua partnership with Kubo promises constant threats.
Other names such as Lucas Boyé (Alavés) and Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad) complete the quartet of highlights, based on performances from recent games. Vicente leads in creation, with 77 decisive passes. Sadiq stands out in submissions, with 50 successful attempts.
History and numbers of the Basque derby
Alavés and Real Sociedad have faced each other 38 times in LaLiga, with 18 wins for the visitors, 9 draws and 11 victories for the home team. No Mendizorroza, Alavés has the advantage with 13 wins in 28 duels. The average number of goals is 2.5 per match, favoring open games.
In the current season, Real Sociedad scored in all of the last 6 games, with 10 points in the 15 played. Alavés, in turn, only has 5 points at home, but won the last derby 2-1. Cartões averages 3.73 per game, with Rojas applying rigor.
This data indicates balance, but the home factor may lean towards Alavés.
The 2024 clash ended 1-1, with a late goal. Real Sociedad has 11 wins overall. Alavés exploits counterattacks in 60% of goals.
Broadcast and how to follow live
The match will be broadcast on ESPN 2 from 4pm, with full pre- and post-game coverage. No Disney+, signal starts at 4:15 pm, including real-time tactical analysis. Plataformas and Sofascore offer live statistics, with up-to-date player ratings.
Fans outside of Espanha access via official LaLiga apps or paid streaming. The audio in Portuguese is available on ESPN, making it easier for the Brazilian public to follow.
Options include immediate post-game highlights. Sofascore tracks over 50 metrics per match.
Tactical expectations at Mendizorroza
Alavés adopts a reactive stance, with 4-1-4-1 to absorb pressure and counterattack via Vicente and Boyé. Coudet emphasizes defensive compactness, exploiting the opponent’s mistakes in 40% of transitions. The team’s average height, 1.82m, favors aerial balls.
Real Sociedad presses high with 4-4-2, using Kubo and Guedes on the wings to create overloads. Francisco prioritizes possession above 55%, with Sadiq fixing defenders. The team has 742 passes per game on average, leading the midfield.
Substitutions such as Aleñá (Alavés) and Marín (Real) can change the second half.
High pressure from Real forces Alavesist errors. Contra-attacks define 30% of Alavés’s goals. Posse of visiting ball reaches 60% in duels like this.
Arbitration and regulations in focus
Javier Alberola Rojas referees the game, averaging 0.16 cards per minute in LaLiga. Auxiliares Carlos Del Cerro Grande and Rubén Ávalos Barrera monitor offsides via VAR. Regras of 2025 include review of penalties in questionable shots.
The Mendizorroza seats 19,840 fans, with full capacity expected for the derby. Protocolos security features include digital ticket checking.
VAR intervenes in 25% of controversial moves. Rojas deals 4.5 cards per game on average.
