A single goal from substitute Luis Rioja was enough for Valencia to take three points from Alaves at the Estadio de Mendizorroza on matchday 6 of La Liga. Rioja, introduced at the hour mark, converted from a Javi Guerra pass in the 78th minute to settle a tight, largely uneventful contest. Alaves had the more threatening afternoon on paper, registering 15 shots to Valencia’s 10, but interim boss Óscar Sánchez got the result that mattered from his side.
Key Moments
- 18′, VAR cancels what would have been Valencia’s opener, ruling out a goal credited to Danjuma.
- 21′, Tempers flare in the aftermath of the disallowed goal: Javi Guerra (Valencia) and Antonio Blanco (Alaves) both pick up yellow cards for arguing with officials.
- 63′, Valencia make their first substitution, pulling Hugo Duro and sending on Luis Rioja.
- 78′, Luis Rioja breaks the deadlock. Javi Guerra plays him through and Rioja finishes to give Valencia the lead, 15 minutes after entering the pitch.
- 82′, Valencia shut up shop with a triple change: Luis Rioja, Justin de Haas and Pablo Maffeo all come off, replaced by Jesús Vázquez, Iker Córdoba and Arnau Martínez.
Tactical Breakdown
Valencia controlled the ball throughout, finishing with 57% possession and 475 total passes (389 accurate) against an Alaves side that settled into a 3-5-2 block and looked to threaten on the break. The visitors’ possession game did not translate into clear chances early on: 10 total shots, only three on target, and five blocked before Rioja’s arrival changed the equation.
The turning point was Valencia’s substitution at the 63rd minute. With the game goalless and starting forward Hugo Duro struggling to find space, Óscar Sánchez introduced Luis Rioja. The change paid off almost immediately in attacking terms: Rioja found the net within 15 minutes of coming on, latching onto Javi Guerra’s pass. Guido Rodríguez had already been replaced by David Otorbi at the 70th minute after picking up a yellow card, managing the tactical risk of a second booking in midfield.
Alaves generated the higher shot volume, 15 in total including 11 inside the box, but conversion was the problem. Toni Martínez and Boyé led the forward line without reward, and Denis Suárez offered little creativity before both were substituted at 67 minutes. Dimitrievski made three saves to keep the clean sheet intact, and Alaves never tested him enough to threaten the result after the 78th minute.
Player Ratings
Match Context
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Verdict
The result moves Valencia to 17th in La Liga with four points from six games, a position that calls for a run of form rather than panic at this stage of the season. Alaves, still fourth on 10 points, drop two consecutive league games for the first time this season and will need to regroup quickly with European qualification places still very much in flux among the teams around them.
Alaves
Valencia
Luis Rioja