LaLiga: Alavés Secure Vital Win Over Villarreal Despite Being Reduced to Nine Men

Deportivo Alavés secured a stunning 1-0 win over Villarreal despite being reduced to nine men, lifting them out of LaLiga's bottom three.

In a shocking turn of events, nine-man Deportivo Alavés secured a crucial victory in their battle for LaLiga survival, defeating Villarreal 1-0 at the Mendizorroza Stadium. This hard-fought win ended Alavés' six-match winless streak and provided a vital boost to their relegation fight.

Alavés, desperate for a win to escape the relegation zone, started the game strongly, dominating the early stages. Their efforts paid off in the 11th minute when Manu Sánchez bundled the ball over the line from close range, scoring the opening goal after his initial header was saved by Diego Conde.

Villarreal struggled to break down Alavés' resolute defense, managing only one notable attempt on goal in the first half-hour. Nicolas Pépé's shot towards the bottom corner was expertly saved by Antonio Sivera, who got down well to deny the Villarreal attacker. The visitors' best chance of the half came on 37 minutes when Ayoze Pérez fired a first-time strike towards the goal, but Sivera reacted superbly to make the save and preserve Alavés' lead.

Villarreal gained control of the match after the restart, but they struggled to create clear-cut scoring opportunities. However, the Yellow Submarine received a significant boost before the hour mark when Sivera was given a red card following a lengthy VAR review for handling the ball outside the penalty area.

With the numerical advantage, Marcelino's men attempted to capitalize on their dominance, but their lack of sharpness in the final third continued to hinder their efforts. The hosts' replacement goalkeeper, Adrián Rodriguez, was largely untested as the match entered its closing stages, despite Villarreal's possession.

FT: #AlavésVillarreal 1-0@Alaves get an important victory at Mendizorrotza. ✅💙#LALIGAEASPORTS pic.twitter.com/PmcXDjA5H8

— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) March 8, 2025

The hosts' task became even more challenging in the fourth minute of a lengthy 15-minute stoppage time, as Antonio Blanco was shown a red card after a VAR review, leaving Alavés with a two-man advantage. Nevertheless, Villarreal failed to capitalize on their possession and Alavés held on to secure a crucial three points, lifting them out of LaLiga's bottom three.

The defeat denied Villarreal the opportunity to move within a point of fourth-placed Athletic Club, marking their first loss in seven La Liga matches.