Deportivo Alavés begins its Copa del Rey campaign on Wednesday with a decisive match against Anaitasuna of Azkoitia, at the Txerloia stadium, which houses around 1,500 spectators. The match is presented as a key opportunity for the blue and white team, which is going through a streak of six days without a victory in the league and is seeking to change its dynamic. Coach Quique SánchezFlores has emphasized the importance of the cup as an engine of motivation for the fans and the team, recalling that in the last edition they reached the semifinals before being eliminated by Real Sociedad.
Alavés, who were close to reaching the semi-finals in the previous season, face an Anaitasuna team that has shown solidity in the previous phase, beating Tedeón from La Rioja with a total of 10‑2. The Gipuzkoa team, which competes in the Gipuzkoa Honor Division, occupies third position after six consecutive victories, including four in the local championship. With only one game less than their direct rivals, Anaitasuna remains two points behind the lead, which gives them the possibility of direct promotion.
The Madrid coach has declared that he will not leave any player in Vitoria and that he will rotate his squad, including the goalkeeper and forward. Adrián Rodríguez is expected to enter the goal and Aitor Mañas, who scored Alavés' last goal in the league, is expected to play in the attacking line. Anaitasuna, for its part, will have its usual lineup, which includes Sudupe, Larramandi, Unai Pérez, Errazu, Aramendi, Guembe, Garmendia, Carlos Juaristi, Pastrian, Luis Juraisti and Hazim.
The referee designated for the match will be Ricardo de Burgos, from the Basque committee. The match will take place at 7:00 p.m. Anaitasuna has already faced top-flight teams in the cup, such as Getafe six seasons ago, when they only achieved victory in added time thanks to a penalty. In the current edition, Loren Barbado's team advances to the first round after a resounding victory over Tedeón.
The history between both teams dates back to the 1986-1987 season, with eight previous meetings in which Alavés has won four, Anaitasuna three draws and a 3-1 victory for the Azkoitiarra zone in 1987. With the cup at stake, both clubs seek to take advantage of the opportunity to advance and, in the case of Alavés, regain confidence after a winless streak in the league. The result of the match will determine if Alavés can change its course and if Anaitasuna can continue surprising in the national competition.