Deportivo Alavés B and Rayo Cantabria shared the points after a wildly entertaining 3-3 draw in the Segunda División RFEF on 24 October 2026, a result that delivered six goals, a second-half swing and a late equaliser at the Alavés training complex in Vitoria-Gasteiz.

Alavés B twice led during a lively first half, but Rayo Cantabria responded with character each time before edging ahead after the break. Just when the visitors looked set to leave with all three points, Alavés B found one final answer to cap a breathless Segunda División RFEF match report.

Match overview: six goals and a second-half turnaround

The home side started with the energy expected of a young Alavés B outfit, pressing high and forcing Rayo Cantabria into hurried clearances. That early pressure paid off in the 12th minute when Aitor Galarza swept home from the edge of the box after a neat turnover in midfield.

Rayo Cantabria settled after conceding and began to find space behind the Alavés full-backs. Their equaliser arrived in the 29th minute through Mario Solórzano, who met a deep cross with a firm header that gave the goalkeeper no chance.

Alavés B restored their lead shortly before half-time. Jon Ander Ochoa timed his run into the penalty area perfectly and guided a low finish beyond the goalkeeper to make it 2-1 at the interval.

The second half was a different story. Rayo Cantabria came out with greater intensity and levelled in the 55th minute when Diego Ceballos drove into the box and fired across goal. Thirteen minutes later, Rayo completed the turnaround from the penalty spot: Pablo Ruiz converted confidently after Ceballos was brought down inside the area.

Alavés B pushed bodies forward in the closing stages and were rewarded in the 84th minute. Substitute Unai Ropero arrived at the back post to turn in a low cross from the right, sparking one final spell of pressure that neither side could convert into a winning goal.

Key moments

• 12th minute: Aitor Galarza opens the scoring for Alavés B after a high press forces a mistake.
• 29th minute: Mario Solórzano heads Rayo Cantabria level from a well-delivered cross.
• 43rd minute: Jon Ander Ochoa restores Alavés B’s lead with a composed finish inside the box.
• 55th minute: Diego Ceballos makes it 2-2 with a driving run and low strike.
• 68th minute: Pablo Ruiz converts a penalty to put Rayo Cantabria 3-2 ahead.
• 84th minute: Unai Ropero equalises for Alavés B with a back-post finish.

Tactical story: pressing, transitions and defensive gaps

Alavés B’s approach was built on aggressive pressing and quick transitions. The home side won the ball high up the pitch several times in the opening half and looked dangerous whenever their midfielders broke forward. Their movement between the lines caused Rayo Cantabria problems, especially in the first 45 minutes.

However, that attacking intent came with risk. Alavés B left space behind their full-backs, and Rayo Cantabria gradually exploited it with direct runs and early crosses. Rayo’s second-half improvement was rooted in a more compact defensive block and a willingness to attack quickly after regaining possession.

The game became stretched after the hour mark, with both teams committing numbers forward. It made for an open, end-to-end contest, but it also exposed defensive vulnerabilities on both sides. In the end, neither team could hold a lead long enough to secure victory.

Standout players

Aitor Galarza was central to Alavés B’s bright start, combining his goal with tireless work off the ball. Jon Ander Ochoa’s late runs from midfield gave the home side an extra attacking dimension, while Unai Ropero made the decisive impact from the bench with the late equaliser.

For Rayo Cantabria, Diego Ceballos was the game’s most influential attacker. He scored the equaliser at 2-2 and won the penalty that briefly put his side ahead. Pablo Ruiz handled the pressure of that spot-kick well, and Mario Solórzano’s first-half header underlined his threat in the air.

Table and season impact

The draw leaves both teams with mixed feelings. Alavés B will be pleased with their attacking output and the resilience shown to salvage a point, but conceding three goals at home will give the coaching staff plenty to review. Rayo Cantabria, meanwhile, demonstrated character by coming from behind and then taking the lead, though they will regret not seeing the game out.

In a competitive Segunda División RFEF group, every point matters, and dropped points can prove costly when the standings tighten later in the season. Both sides remain in the thick of the campaign, but this six-goal thriller suggests that consistency at the back will be just as important as attacking fla