Barcelona Look to Edge Closer to Title Against Struggling Alaves

Barcelona's relentless march towards the La Liga title continues on Wednesday night as they travel to face relegation-threatened Alaves at Estadio Mendizorrotza. With a 54-point gap separating these sides, this clash represents a meeting of polar opposites.

The Catalan giants have been simply unstoppable this season, sitting top with 91 points from 35 games and boasting a perfect five-game winning streak. Their record of 30 wins, just one draw and four defeats tells the story of a team in complete control. In stark contrast, Alaves occupy 18th place with only 37 points, their recent form of DLWLD highlighting their struggle to find consistency when they need it most.

For Barcelona, right-back Jules Koundé has been a standout performer with an impressive SAM rating of 91, averaging 6 points per game while contributing one goal and three assists. However, he'll be walking a disciplinary tightrope after picking up yellow cards. X. Espart has been their most consistent defender recently with 7.9 points per game despite a modest SAM rating of 69.

Alaves will be hoping Jonathan Castro Otto can marshal their defense effectively, with the centre-back boasting the hosts' highest SAM rating of 88 and averaging 5.5 points per game. Their attacking hopes rest heavily on the shoulders of their remaining fit forwards, as key striker Lucas Boyé remains sidelined with a muscle injury despite his impressive 84 SAM rating and nine goals this season.

Injury concerns plague both camps, with Alaves missing six players including suspended defender Facundo Garcés and striker Abderrahmane Rebbach. Barcelona have their own fitness worries with Andreas Christensen nursing a knee injury and several key players dealing with card accumulation.

With Barcelona needing just a handful of points to mathematically secure the title and Alaves desperately scrapping for survival, expect the visitors' superior quality to shine through. Barcelona should have enough firepower to overcome their hosts' defensive resolve and take another step towards championship glory.

Prediction: Alaves 0-2 Barcelona