Buy Alaves vs Barcelona tickets for the 2026/27 Season, with the match scheduled for Sunday 24 January 2027 at Mendizorrotza and currently listed for an 18:00 local kick-off (17:00 UK). It is LaLiga matchday 21, and LaLiga confirms final kick-off times around two to three weeks before each round, so keep the evening free. The reigning champions travel to one of Spain's oldest and most compact grounds, and they arrive knowing exactly what happened last time.
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Last May, three days after sealing the title, Barcelona lost 1-0 in Vitoria-Gasteiz. It was Alavés' first home win over the Catalans in almost 25 years, and it has turned this January fixture into one of the most anticipated dates on the Basque club's calendar.
For buyers, the arithmetic is simple, and it works against anyone who waits. A stadium of fewer than 20,000 seats, a membership base that fills most of it and a visiting side with supporters all over Spain add up to one of the scarcest tickets in LaLiga.
Mendizorrotza's listed capacity is 19,840, and Alavés count around 17,800 socios. Once members are in, only around 2,000 seats are left for everyone else, including the visiting allocation. For most games that is enough. For Barcelona, it is nowhere near.
Compare that with the big city grounds. At a stadium of 60,000 or more, a few thousand extra buyers barely move the market. At Mendizorrotza, a few hundred extra requests are enough to clear every available seat, which is why listings for this game tend to disappear quickly once they appear.
The evidence is recent. When Barcelona visited in May 2026, the club announced that every ticket had gone, the fifth sell-out of the season at Mendizorrotza after visits from Real Madrid, Osasuna, Real Oviedo and Athletic Club. The champions' return in January will face the same squeeze, with an extra layer of curiosity after last season's result.
Barcelona bring a following that stretches far beyond Catalonia. Supporters' clubs across the Basque Country and northern Spain turn out whenever the team plays nearby. A visit from the champions is one of the few chances in the season for many of them to see the side in person, and Vitoria-Gasteiz sits within easy reach of Bilbao, San Sebastián and Logroño. Many of those fans will be looking for tickets outside the visiting club's allocation.
Broadcast pull and the calendar add to it. A Sunday game against the champions is exactly the kind of fixture LaLiga tends to place in a high-profile slot, and neutral visitors plan weekends around it. With Barcelona also playing in the Champions League, this is one of the few chances each season to see them in a ground this intimate.
The two clubs also share a cup final. Barcelona beat Alavés 3-1 in the 2017 Copa del Rey final in Madrid, a day many Alavés supporters still remember as one of the club's biggest occasions of the modern era. Add last season's league win at home and there is a real sense in Vitoria that this has become a fixture with a story, not just a date with the champions.
Through the club, rarely. Around 17,800 socios hold seats for every home match, and the remaining general sale for high-demand games is small. When those tickets are released, Alavés sell them through the club's own website and ticket office, and marquee fixtures can sell out within hours.
The members' group that follows capacity closely has argued that the real usable capacity is slightly lower than the listed figure, at around 19,500, because some seats have been lost over the years. Either way, the margin for non-members is thin, and priority for season ticket holders means casual buyers from abroad rarely get a look in.
Barcelona supporters face the same challenge at their end. The away allocation is handled through the visiting club's own channels, with priority for members and supporters' clubs. With thousands of Barcelona fans in the region, that allocation goes quickly.
The resale marketplace is the practical route for everyone else. Listings on 1BoxOffice come from verified sellers, and every order is backed by a 150% money-back guarantee if the tickets do not arrive as described. Supply often appears when socios who cannot attend release their seats, so it pays to look more than once in the weeks before the game.
Joining as a socio is not a quick fix either. With the club saying there is no room to add members at the current capacity, new memberships are limited, and a membership bought in January would not guarantee a seat for this fixture in any case. For overseas buyers and occasional visitors, the resale route is the only one that works on a realistic timescale.
Five factors drive prices for this fixture. Seat location comes first, with the covered Tribuna Principal priced well above the ends. Demand is the second, and the champions' visit is the most requested home game of Alavés' 2026/27 season.
Timing plays its part too, since prices firm up once LaLiga confirms the kick-off slot and travel plans settle. The competition context adds weight, with Barcelona chasing another title and Alavés looking to build on last season's shock win. Hospitality sits in a bracket of its own.
| Ticket Type | Resale Price Range | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper tier / less central | £90 – £150 | Budget-minded buyers and groups | Fondo seats behind the goals and corner areas |
| Longside standard | £130 – £200 | First-time visitors wanting a balanced view | Tribuna Preferencia seats away from the halfway line |
| Lower tier / central | £170 – £280+ | Fans who want to be close to the action | Central seats in the Tribuna Principal or Preferencia |
| Premium seating | £250 – £400+ | Couples and business visitors | Central Tribuna Principal seats under the roof |
| Hospitality / VIP | £450 – £900+ | Corporate guests and special occasions | Lounge access, catering and central covered seats |
Prices reflect typical resale ranges and may change as demand and availability shift closer to the match.
The gap between Alavés' normal matchday prices and resale prices for this game reflects scarcity rather than club pricing. With so few seats reaching open sale, the price is set by how many socios decide to release theirs, and for Barcelona that number is always small.
The kick-off slot can also move the market. A Sunday evening game suits visitors staying for the weekend, while a switch to Saturday or Monday changes who can travel. When LaLiga confirms the timing, listings tend to reprice within days, so buyers who commit early usually pay less than those waiting for certainty.
The Mendizorrotza seating plan follows a traditional four-sided layout. The Tribuna Principal runs along the west side with a roof, the Tribuna Preferencia faces it on the east and the Fondo Norte and Fondo Sur close off each end. Since the late-1990s rebuild, the ground has a single-tier design, so every seat is relatively close to the pitch.
| Area | What It Suits | Pricing Bracket | Guidance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tribuna Principal (central) | Comfort-first buyers and hospitality guests | High | The covered main stand with a classic side-on view and the dugouts |
| Tribuna Principal (lateral) | Buyers who want cover at a lower price | Mid to high | Still under the roof, with an angled view towards one goal |
| Tribuna Preferencia | First-time visitors and neutrals | Mid | Opposite the main stand with a clear view of both boxes |
| Fondo Sur | Home supporters who want noise and atmosphere | Lower | Where the most vocal home support gathers; not for anyone in Barcelona colours |
| Fondo Norte and corners | Groups and budget buyers | Lower | Behind the northern goal; visiting fans are usually placed towards this end |
| Visitors' section | Barcelona supporters | Set by allocation | A segregated area accessed through Gate 3. Blaugrana colours belong here only |
Neutral buyers and undecided fans should aim for the Tribuna Preferencia or the lateral Tribuna Principal, where you get a full view of the pitch without sitting among the most partisan supporters. Families and first-time visitors often find the Preferencia the most comfortable balance of view, atmosphere and price. For more on the ground and the other fixtures it hosts, see our Mendizorrotza Stadium guide.
Mendizorrotza opened on 27 April 1924, making it one of the oldest grounds in Spanish professional football. The stands were extended into the corners in 1998, and plans to expand and modernise the stadium have been discussed for years, but for now it remains one of LaLiga's smaller and more traditional venues.
That compact, single-tier layout is part of the appeal. Even the back rows are close to the touchline, and the noise from the Fondo Sur carries around the whole ground. The trade-off is that sightlines from low seats behind the goals can be flat, so buyers who want to follow the shape of the game should favour the sides over the ends.
| Hospitality Option | Typical Buyer | Main Appeal |
|---|---|---|
| Premium seat | Fans upgrading from a standard ticket | A central covered seat in the Tribuna Principal |
| Lounge package | Couples and small groups | Pre-match food and drinks in a warm lounge before a winter evening game |
| VIP package | Business hosts entertaining clients | Top central seats with dining and priority access |
| Private box (where offered) | Corporate groups and celebrations | A reserved space with catering and a view over the pitch |
Hospitality at a ground this size is limited, and for Barcelona it is one of the first categories to go. Corporate buyers in the Basque Country tend to plan well ahead for this fixture, so availability usually narrows long before standard seats. Packages differ in arrival time, dress code and what is included, so read each listing's notes before you commit.
For groups, hospitality is also one of the few reliable ways to secure several seats together. Standard blocks of four or more are very hard to find for this fixture once socios have taken their seats.
| Delivery Type | What to Confirm |
|---|---|
| Mobile ticket | Confirm when the seller will transfer the ticket and which app or account it arrives in |
| E-ticket (PDF) | Make sure you receive a printable file and bring a clean copy or a clear screenshot |
| Member card seat | If the seat belongs to a socio, confirm exactly how access will work on the day |
| Hospitality pass | Confirm where the pass is issued and which entrance serves the lounge |
Always read the listing notes before you buy, as they state the delivery method and any restrictions. Bring valid photo ID, charge your phone fully and save the ticket offline before you leave, because signal can dip when the whole ground arrives at once.
Mendizorrotza sits on Paseo de Cervantes, about a kilometre from Plaza de la Virgen Blanca, so most visitors walk from the old town in 10 to 15 minutes. Bus lines 2 and 8 serve the stadium, and the railway station is around 1.7 km away. Visiting supporters use Gate 3, according to LaLiga's stadium guide. Aim to arrive an hour early, as the narrow streets around the ground fill quickly on a sold-out night.
After the final whistle, the walk back into the centre is often quicker than waiting for a bus or taxi. January evenings in Vitoria-Gasteiz can be cold and wet, so pack a warm, waterproof layer if your seat is outside the covered main stand.
The old town makes an easy base for matchday. Most visitors eat and drink around the historic centre before walking down to the ground together, and the route is simple to follow on the day. Allow extra time if you are collecting anything or meeting a group, as the approach roads around Paseo de Cervantes are busy for the hour before kick-off.
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Step1
Find the fixture
Search for Alavés against Barcelona or open the Mendizorrotza listing for matchday 21 in January 2027.
Step2
Set up your account
Create an account with the name and email you want linked to your order and ticket transfer.
Step3
Pick your stand
Filter by stand. The Tribuna Preferencia suits most neutrals; Barcelona fans should look for listings in the visitors' section.
Step4
Choose your quantity
Select how many seats you need and use the seats-together filter if your group wants to sit side by side.
Step5
Read the listing notes
Confirm the delivery method, the expected transfer date and whether the seat is a transferred member seat.
Step6
Pay securely
Complete payment through the encrypted payment page. The total shown before you pay includes all fees.
Step7
Watch for your confirmation
An order confirmation arrives by email straight away, followed by delivery updates as the match approaches.
Step8
Follow your order to matchday
Use track order to see where your tickets are, then load them onto your phone before you head to Paseo de Cervantes.
Most overseas buyers receive tickets by mobile transfer or e-ticket, so you can buy from abroad and have everything ready before you land. Request seats together at the point of purchase if you travel as a group, and give the seller the exact name and email you will use on the day. Vitoria has its own airport, but many international visitors fly into Bilbao, around an hour away by road, which has far more connections. Bilbao and San Sebastián both make good bases for a weekend, with regular coach links into Vitoria-Gasteiz.
LaLiga publishes exact kick-off times only two to three weeks in advance, and a Sunday evening game can move to Saturday or Monday, so book flexible flights and hotels that cover the full weekend. Barcelona supporters travelling from Catalonia face a long trip of around five hours by road, which is why many make a weekend of it and combine the game with Bilbao or San Sebastián. If you are travelling from the UK, a Friday flight into Bilbao with a Monday return gives you cover if LaLiga moves the game within the weekend.
Alavés have hosted Barcelona in the top flight 20 times, spread across very different eras. The first meetings came in the early 1930s, when Alavés spent three seasons in the Primera División and beat Barcelona 2-1 at home in February 1933. After a brief return in the mid-1950s, the fixture disappeared for more than four decades until Alavés came back to the top flight in 1998.
The turn of the century was the club's golden age. Barcelona clinched the 1998/99 title with a 4-1 win at Mendizorrotza in May 1999, but Alavés answered four months later with a 2-1 win during the strongest start in their top-flight history, and in December 2001 they beat Barcelona 2-0 a few months after reaching the UEFA Cup final. That would be their last home win in the fixture for almost 25 years, a spell that included a 6-0 defeat in February 2017, the heaviest in the history of this fixture in Vitoria.
That 2001/02 win carried extra weight because of what had come just before. In May 2001 Alavés reached the UEFA Cup final, losing 5-4 to Liverpool in Dortmund in a final settled by a golden goal in extra time. The club's return to LaLiga in 2016 brought Barcelona back to Mendizorrotza on a regular basis, but for almost a decade Barcelona's visits brought a run of away wins interrupted only by a 1-1 draw in 2020.
What makes the fixture distinctive is how rarely Alavés win it, and how much each win means when it comes. Four home victories in 20 meetings, each separated by years, have become part of the club's story. Last season's win over the champions gave a new generation of supporters their own version of that memory, and it is the main reason demand for January's rematch is so high.
The figures below cover all 20 top-flight league meetings in Vitoria-Gasteiz with Alavés as hosts, all played at Mendizorrotza.
| Metric | Total |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 20 |
| Alavés wins | 4 |
| Barcelona wins | 11 |
| Draws | 5 |
| Alavés goals | 15 |
| Barcelona goals | 39 |
| Biggest Alavés win | 2-0 (1 Dec 2001) |
| Biggest Barcelona win | 0-6 (11 Feb 2017) |
| First league meeting in scope | 29 Mar 1931 |
| Most recent meeting in scope | 13 May 2026 |
Source: match-by-match data compared between fussballdaten.de, season results tables and ESPN or Sports Mole match reports.
Barcelona average almost two goals a game at Mendizorrotza, while Alavés have scored more than once in only four of the 20 meetings. The modern record is even more one-sided: since returning to LaLiga in 2016, Alavés have won one, drawn one and lost seven of nine home games against Barcelona, which is exactly why May's win landed so hard.
Draws are rare but not unknown: five in 20 meetings, including back-to-back goalless games in 2003 and 2005 and a 1-1 in October 2020, the last shared result before May's home win. Three of the five have come since 1999, two of them goalless, and a tight, low-scoring game is exactly the kind of evening home fans will be hoping for in January.
Every top-flight league game Alavés have hosted against Barcelona, newest first, from the first meeting in March 1931 to the most recent in May 2026. Scores are shown with Alavés first, and every result sits within the same scope as the figures above.
| Date | Score |
|---|---|
| 13 May 2026 | 1-0 |
| 6 Oct 2024 | 0-3 |
| 3 Feb 2024 | 1-3 |
| 23 Jan 2022 | 0-1 |
| 31 Oct 2020 | 1-1 |
| 19 Jul 2020 | 0-5 |
| 23 Apr 2019 | 0-2 |
| 26 Aug 2017 | 0-2 |
| 11 Feb 2017 | 0-6 |
| 27 Aug 2005 | 0-0 |
| 16 Mar 2003 | 0-0 |
| 1 Dec 2001 | 2-0 |
| 19 May 2001 | 0-1 |
| 18 Sep 1999 | 2-1 |
| 22 May 1999 | 1-4 |
| 28 Feb 1956 | 1-3 |
| 19 Sep 1954 | 2-2 |
| 5 Feb 1933 | 2-1 |
| 13 Mar 1932 | 1-3 |
| 29 Mar 1931 | 1-1 |
Source: fussballdaten.de, with each result also confirmed by season results tables or ESPN and Sports Mole match reports.
Buying before LaLiga confirms the kick-off time usually gives the widest choice, as prices climb once travel plans firm up.
Visiting supporters enter through Gate 3 into a segregated section, and anyone in Barcelona colours should only buy seats listed there.
The Tribuna Principal on the west side has a roof, so choose it if you want shelter on a January evening.
Yes, filter for seats together when you choose your quantity and only listings that keep your group side by side will show.
Yes, the ground is roughly a 10 to 15 minute walk from Plaza de la Virgen Blanca in the old town.
Sources: LaLiga official stadium guide for Mendizorrotza, LaLiga 2026/27 calendar, Deportivo Alavés ticketing announcements, Infobae, Gasteiz Hoy, Norte Exprés, Sports Mole, ESPN, fussballdaten.de and season results tables.