Athletic Club Women delivered a dominant Basque derby statement on home soil, easing past CD Alavés Women 3-0 in an international club friendly on the night of August 16, 2026. Played at Lezama, the preseason meeting gave Athletic’s coaching staff plenty of encouragement as they continue their preparation for the new domestic campaign.

Match Overview

From the opening exchanges, Athletic Club Women took control of the fixture, pressing high and forcing Alavés into a series of early turnovers. The home side’s midfield dictated the tempo, with sharp combinations down both flanks creating persistent danger. Two composed finishes before the interval gave Athletic a commanding lead, and a third goal after the break rounded off a thoroughly professional performance.

Key Moments

• Early pressure rewarded: Athletic opened the scoring inside the first 20 minutes, finishing off a well-worked move that started deep inside their own half.
• Second before half-time: A quick counter-attack stretched the Alavés defense, and Athletic’s clinical striker doubled the lead shortly before the whistle.
• Late exclamation point: A well-struck effort from the edge of the area sealed the 3-0 scoreline and capped a complete team display.

Tactical Story

Athletic Club Women implemented an aggressive high press that disrupted Alavés’ build-up play throughout the friendly. Their full-backs pushed high to create overloads in wide areas, while the midfield rotated effectively to find pockets of space between the lines. Alavés Women, to their credit, showed resilience and tried to play out from the back, but Athletic’s relentless energy forced repeated errors. The clean sheet will be especially pleasing for the coaching staff ahead of the upcoming season.

Standout Players

The home side’s attacking unit looked sharp, with several players showing good movement and finishing instincts. The midfield duo controlled the rhythm of the game, while the center-back pairing dealt comfortably with Alavés’ limited forays forward. Athletic’s goalkeeper, when called upon, made one notable save to preserve the shutout and demonstrated strong distribution from the back.

What This Means for Both Teams

For Athletic Club Women, this friendly represents a solid foundation as they build toward competitive action. The 3-0 result not only boosts morale but also gives valuable minutes to a squad looking to integrate new signings and returning players. For CD Alavés Women, the match offered important preparation despite the defeat, with the coaching staff able to assess fitness levels and tactical adjustments against a top-tier opponent.

With preseason continuing, Athletic Club Women will look to carry this momentum forward, while Alavés Women will take the lessons from a tough Basque derby into their next fixture.