Preview: Granada vs. Alaves - prediction, team news, lineups

Granada will be looking to make it back-to-back wins at the start of their new La Liga campaign when they welcome Alaves to Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes on Sunday night.

Diego Martinez 's side won 2-0 against Athletic Bilbao in their season opener last weekend, while Alaves suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Real Betis, conceding in the 94th minute of the contest.

Match preview

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Granada enjoyed a terrific 2019-20 campaign in Spain's top flight, picking up 56 points from their 38 matches to finish seventh, ensuring that they would be present in the qualifying rounds of the Europa League.

It was an excellent season for a club that had been promoted the season before after two campaigns in the second tier, while it was proved to be their highest finish in La Liga since 1973-74.

Martinez's side have also made a strong start to the new campaign, beating Athletic 2-0 in their opener last weekend courtesy of goals from Yangel Herrera and Luis Milla.

Granada were in Europa League action on Thursday, meanwhile, and ensured that they would be present in the third qualifying round courtesy of a 4-0 win over Teuta Durres in Albania.

The hosts will be determined to pick up another three league points this weekend before taking on Lokomotivi Tbilisi in the next round of the Europa League on September 23.

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Alaves, meanwhile, opened their 2020-21 La Liga season with a 1-0 home defeat to Betis last weekend; it did appear that the points were going to be shared at Estadio de Mendizorroza in a goalless draw, but Cristian Tello came up with a 94th minute winner for the visitors.

The Basque outfit have largely impressed since earning promotion to the top flight for the 2016-17 campaign, where they actually finished ninth. Last term was somewhat of a struggle, though, ending the season in 16th, just three points outside of the relegation zone.

Pablo Machin 's side have been relatively quiet in this summer's transfer window, but they managed to secure a loan deal for Newcastle United's Florian Lejeune, while Deyverson has also arrived on loan from Palmeiras.

Alaves will be determined to put three points on the board as soon as possible, but Los Babazorros have lost each of their last three league games with Granada, including a 3-0 defeat in the corresponding game last term.

Granada La Liga form: W

Granada form (all competitions): WW

Alaves La Liga form: L

Team News

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Granada have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the match, and it would not be a surprise to see Martinez send the same group of players onto the field that started against Athletic.

Darwin Machis, Milla and Dimitri Foulquier did not feature in the Europa League on Thursday but should return to the starting side for Sunday's contest.

Herrera has now scored three times in two outings for Martinez's side this season, and the 22-year-old looks set for another advanced midfield role against Alaves.

As for Alaves, Manu Garcia remains on the sidelines through injury, but the Basque outfit are otherwise in good shape when it comes to absentees.

Lejeune is expected to come into the starting XI following his loan move from Newcastle, but Machin is likely to keep faith with his 3-5-2 formation.

Edgar Mendez and Luis Rioja were the wing-backs against Betis and that should again be the case this weekend, with former Premier League strikers Lucas Perez and Joselu featuring in attack.

Granada possible starting lineup:

Silva; Foulquier, Sanchez, Duarte, Neva; Herrera, Milla, Montoro; Machis, Soldado, Puertas

Alaves possible starting lineup:

Pacheco; Ely, Laguardia, Lejeune; Mendez, Pina, Battaglia, Pons, Rioja; Joselu, Perez

We say: Granada 2-0 Alaves

Alaves have now lost eight of their last 10 league matches and have failed to score in six of their last seven at this level. Granada, on the other hand, have scored at least twice in six of their last seven league outings, and we are expecting a routine home victory in this weekend's contest.