AD San Juan and Avance Ezcabarte kicked off their 2026-27 preseason preparations in an entertaining international club friendly, with the home side edging a 2-1 victory on a humid Saturday night in Navarre.

Played on 15 August 2026, with kickoff at 02:30 local time, the match served as a useful early fitness test for both clubs. While the result matters little in the broader context of a friendly calendar, the performance levels and tactical adjustments offered plenty of talking points for the coaching staffs on both benches.

Match Overview

AD San Juan came into the contest looking to build chemistry within a retooled squad, while Avance Ezcabarte used the fixture to sharpen their defensive organization. It was the hosts who controlled large stretches of the opening hour, but the visitors showed enough menace on the counter to keep the scoreline respectable.

The final 2-1 result reflected a game of two distinct halves: San Juan dominating possession early, and Ezcabarte pushing hard late in search of an equaliser after a well-taken goal moved them within one.

Key Moments

• First-half breakthrough: AD San Juan seized the lead just before the half-hour mark when a sweeping move down the right wing ended with a composed finish from inside the box, leaving the Avance keeper with no chance.
• San Juan double their lead: The hosts doubled their advantage shortly after the interval, capitalizing on a defensive lapse to slot home from close range and create breathing room.
• Avance respond: The visitors pulled a goal back midway through the second half, converting from a well-worked free-kick routine to create a tense final 20 minutes.
• Late resistance: Avance pushed for an equalizer but found the home goalkeeper in fine form, with the shot-stopper making two sharp saves in the closing stages.

Tactical Story

AD San Juan lined up in a fluid 4-2-3-1 shape, using their full-backs to provide width and their attacking midfielder to link play between the lines. Their patience in possession paid off in the opening goal, with quick passing combinations breaking down a compact Avance block.

Avance Ezcabarte, by contrast, were happy to sit deep and spring forward on the break. Their goal came from a set play rather than open play, but the movement of their wide forwards caused San Juan's back line problems in the final quarter. The visitors' late pressure suggested they could have earned a draw on another day.

Standout Players

For the hosts, the central attacking midfielder impressed with his vision and movement, creating several chances beyond the two goals. The left-back also stood out with overlapping runs and accurate deliveries into the box.

On the Avance side, the goalkeeper made a series of stops to keep the deficit manageable, and the substitute striker injected energy after coming on, playing a key role in the goal and nearly grabbing an equalizer.

What It Means

With the competitive season yet to begin, both managers will take useful positives from this fixture. AD San Juan will value the clean attacking sequences and the chance to give minutes to new signings. Avance Ezcabarte, meanwhile, can be encouraged by their second-half response and set-piece threat, though they will need to work on final-pass accuracy in the final third.

Preseason friendlies rarely tell the full story, but the intensity on display suggested both teams are keen to hit the ground running when official competitions begin.