Alaves Beat Villarreal To Keep Unbeaten Start To LaLiga Season

Alaves players celebrate Boye’s decisive strike

Villarreal still winless after 1-0 loss to Alaves in LaLiga. Lucas Boye goal gives Alaves battling 1-0 victory over Villarreal.

In the closing stages, Villarreal pushed hard and put Alaves under pressure...

Alaves beat Villarreal 1-0 to keep their unbeaten start to the LaLiga season going. Villarreal are still yet to win in 2026/27. 

Villarreal have been scoring freely this season and started well, but missed a golden chance early on when captain Gerard Moreno fired over from close range.  

The hosts registered the first shot on target of the game. Lucas Boye hit a powerful effort that forced Luiz Junior into a save.

Just before the 30-minute mark, Tajon Buchanan nearly put Villarreal ahead with a stunning long-range effort, but Antonio Sivera tipped it over the bar.

That save proved vital. Alaves scored with their next attack to take the lead. After a slick passing move, Angel Perez cut the ball back from the byline for Boye to finish from eight yards.  

Villarreal should have leveled before half-time. Moreno fired from just outside the six-yard box, but Sivera saved comfortably.

The second half started poorly with few clear chances. The big moment was Toni Martinez coming off injured for Alaves. Nicolas Pepe then forced a routine save from Sivera after a good run, but his shot had no power.  

With just over 20 minutes left, Alaves almost made it 2-0 on the break. The ball dropped to Angel Perez, but his quick shot from a tight angle hit the post and Villarreal survived.

In the closing stages, Villarreal pushed hard and put Alaves under pressure. Sivera first made a key block to stop Pepe, then pulled off a brilliant save to deny Ayoze Perez’s late thunderbolt.

With time almost up, Alaves were saved by the post again. Juan Foyth’s quick turn-and-shoot hit the woodwork, leaving the visitors frustrated.  

Despite Villarreal’s late flurry of chances, Alaves held firm for the win. It means they’ve gone unbeaten in their first three LaLiga games for the first time in seven years.

Match Stats & Key Numbers

For Villarreal, head coach Inigo Perez is still without a win after three games. They’ve also now gone six away games without a victory across this season and last.

FT: #AlavésVillarreal 1-0

Alavés get the job done! 🦊#LALIGAEASPORTS pic.twitter.com/87O3l9wp1e

— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) August 28, 2026