Valencia beat Alavés 1-0 at Mendizorrotza.

The LaLiga showdown between Alavés and Valencia took place on 15 September 2026 at the Mendizorrotza stadium in Vitoria-Gasteiz. Both sides entered the match looking to secure vital points, and the atmosphere was charged as the home crowd anticipated a competitive encounter.

How it unfolded

The first significant incident arrived in the 21st minute when Javi Guerra of Valencia was shown a yellow card, a decision mirrored minutes later for Alavés midfielder Antonio Blanco, also booked at the 21st minute. The early cautions hinted at a tightly contested opening, with both teams eager to assert themselves.

The second half began under a cloud of discipline as Valencia again featured on the referee’s sheet. In stoppage time of the first half, Pepelu received a yellow card for a bad foul, marking the first booking of the interval. Five minutes into the second half, Aaron Mayol was cautioned for a similar infringement, and the pattern continued at the hour mark when Guido Rodríguez was also booked for a bad foul. These successive cautions suggested Valencia were committing aggressive challenges while trying to maintain pressure on an organised Alavés defence.

The decisive moment came in the 78th minute when Luis Rioja delivered the match-winning strike for Valencia. Operating from the centre of the box, Rioja struck a right-footed shot that curled into the bottom left corner. The goal was set up by a through ball from Javi Guerra, whose earlier caution did not dampen his contribution to the decisive play. Valencia’s lead held for the remaining minutes, sealing a narrow 1-0 victory.

Standout performers

Luis Rioja earned the spotlight as the match-winner, finding the net with composure and precision from inside the box. His movement and finish were the culmination of Valencia’s attacking intent. Javi Guerra, despite being booked early, provided the crucial assist, threading a through ball that split the Alavés defence and set up Rioja’s goal. Both players were instrumental in the outcome and highlighted Valencia’s effectiveness on the night.

Match facts

  • Final score: Alavés 0-1 Valencia
  • Goal scorer: Luis Rioja (Valencia) – 78′ (assist: Javi Guerra)
  • Bookings:
    • Javi Guerra (Valencia) – 21′
    • Antonio Blanco (Alavés) – 21′
    • Pepelu (Valencia) – 45′+2 (bad foul)
    • Aaron Mayol (Valencia) – 52′ (bad foul)
    • Guido Rodríguez (Valencia) – 61′ (bad foul)
  • Venue: Mendizorrotza, Vitoria-Gasteiz

What it means

The result gives Valencia three points from the encounter, while Alavés return to the bench having failed to find the net. The narrow margin reflects a closely fought contest, with Valencia capitalising on a single moment of quality to secure the win.