Deportivo Alavés kicked off their pre-season preparations in confident fashion with a commanding 3-0 victory over Castellon at a sunny Mendizorrotza on 31 July 2026. The La Liga side controlled the contest from start to finish, using the international club friendly as a platform to sharpen their attacking patterns and give valuable minutes to a rotated squad. The result will please the coaching staff, who were looking for defensive solidity and a clinical edge ahead of the new campaign.

Match Overview

Alavés dominated possession throughout the 90 minutes and created the clearer chances, while Castellon struggled to impose themselves against a well-organised back line. The Babazorros opened the scoring in the first half and added two more after the interval to ensure a comfortable margin of victory. Despite the friendly nature of the fixture, the intensity was high, with both sides treating the match as an important step in their respective pre-season schedules.

Key Moments

• 1st Half – Alavés break the deadlock: A well-worked move down the right flank culminated in a composed finish from inside the box, giving the home side a deserved lead before the break.
• Second goal – Clinical counter: Shortly after the restart, Alavés doubled their advantage with a swift transition, catching Castellon out of shape and finishing with precision.
• Third goal – Late flourish: A late third goal sealed the emphatic scoreline, as a set-piece routine ended with a powerful header at the far post.

Tactical Story

Alavés set up in a fluid 4-2-3-1 shape, with full-backs pushing high to create overloads in wide areas. Their midfield duo controlled the tempo, allowing the attacking midfielders to drift between the lines and link up with the lone striker. Castellon, by contrast, looked to stay compact and hit on the break, but they were largely restricted to long-range efforts and speculative crosses. Alavés’ pressing game disrupted Castellon’s build-up play, forcing errors in dangerous areas and enabling quick recoveries high up the pitch.

Standout Players

Alavés’ standout performer was their central playmaker, who dictated the rhythm and provided the assist for the opening goal. The left full-back also impressed, contributing both defensively and offensively with his overlapping runs. For Castellon, the goalkeeper made several smart saves to keep the scoreline respectable, while their captain worked tirelessly in midfield despite limited support.

Season Impact and Context

For Alavés, this friendly serves as another building block in their pre-season programme. The clean sheet will be particularly pleasing for the coaching staff, as they aim to establish a solid defensive foundation for the La Liga season. Castellon, meanwhile, will take lessons from the defeat as they continue their own preparation for the Segunda División campaign. While friendly results must be viewed with perspective, the confidence gained from such a dominant display can only benefit Alavés as they fine-tune their tactics and fitness ahead of competitive fixtures.