Alavés and Atlético Madrid meet at Mendizorroza with the standings as the backdrop

Atlético Madrid arrives at Mendizorroza on a streak it has no intention of letting go: three straight wins and the need to stay within striking distance of a Barcelona side that sits atop the table. Standing in the way is an Alavés team that has been the surprise package of the season so far, bearing little resemblance to the side that nearly fell into relegation trouble last year.

The match is set for Saturday, October 10 at Estadio de Mendizorroza, for Matchday 8 of LaLiga 2026/27. Kickoff is scheduled for 11:15 a.m. (Argentina, Chile and Uruguay time) and 7:15 a.m. (Colombia, Peru and Ecuador time), with coverage via Disney+ Plan Premium for South America.

An Alavés side that's no longer looking over its shoulder

Just one season ago, Alavés survived relegation by the thinnest of margins, finishing just a single point above the drop zone. Today the story is a different one entirely. Quique Sánchez Flores' team sits seventh in the standings, firmly in position for a spot in international competition. The club arrives at this matchup after a 0-0 draw on the road against Athletic Club, a result that kept the points piling up without any drama.

Alavés' roster features several names familiar to South American fans: Argentines Lucas Boyé, Nahuel Tenaglia and Nicolás Valentini all play key roles, while Dominican forward Mariano Díaz has established himself as the team's top scorer.

Atleti: from derby glory to chasing consistency

On the other side is an Atlético team coming off a win in the Madrid derby. It beat Real Madrid 2-1 at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, with goals from Jonathan David and Alejandro Grimaldo from the penalty spot, while Antonio Rüdiger had pulled one back for the Merengues. That win stretched Atlético's winning streak to three games in a row, something Simeone needs to keep going if he doesn't want Barcelona to pull away in the race for first place.

On Cholo's roster, Argentine stars Julián Álvarez, Giuliano Simeone and Cristian "Cuti" Romero stand out, along with regular starters like Alex Baena, Marcos Llorente and Jan Oblak.

The recent head-to-head record favors Atlético: the last meeting came on January 18, 2026, a 1-0 home win for the Colchoneros thanks to a goal from Alexander Sørloth. Now, with Alavés enjoying a promising run and Atlético needing to stay close to Barcelona, Mendizorroza promises a match with more edge than the form guide might suggest.