Alaves C 2-2 Leioa — Alaves C and Leioa played out an entertaining 2-2 draw in the Spanish Tercera División RFEF on October 17, 2026. Alaves C led twice, but Leioa showed character to fight back on both occasions, with Mikel Etxebarria’s late equaliser sealing a point at the Ciudad Deportiva José Luis Compañón.

Match overview

Alaves C started with youthful energy, pressing high and moving the ball quickly in the attacking third. Their early dominance paid off in the 11th minute when Iker García found space inside the box and finished confidently. Leioa responded well, gradually settling into the game and finding space in wide areas. The equaliser came in the 33rd minute through Aitor Ceballos, whose well-timed run behind the defence was rewarded with a composed finish.

Alaves C regained the lead in the 57th minute when Unai López struck from just outside the box, his shot taking a slight deflection on its way past the goalkeeper. Leioa pushed for a response and got their reward in the 87th minute. Substitute Mikel Etxebarria arrived at the back post to convert a cross and spark late celebrations for the visitors.

Key moments

• 11th minute: Iker García gave Alaves C an early lead with a tidy finish inside the box.
• 33rd minute: Aitor Ceballos equalised for Leioa after a quick move down the left.
• 57th minute: Unai López restored Alaves C’s advantage with a powerful strike from distance.
• 87th minute: Mikel Etxebarria scored from close range to make it 2-2.

Tactical story

Alaves C’s 4-2-3-1 was built on energy and quick transitions. Their young midfield pressed aggressively, forcing Leioa into hurried passes and creating turnovers in dangerous areas. The home side’s full-backs pushed high, which gave them numerical superiority in wide zones but also left space behind for Leioa’s counter-attacks.

Leioa’s 4-4-2 was more patient. They absorbed pressure, kept their shape, and looked to release their strikers with direct passes. The visitors’ experience showed in the final stages, as they continued to probe for an equaliser rather than settling for a narrow defeat. Alaves C will be disappointed to concede late, but their performance offered plenty of positives.

Standout players

Unai López was at the heart of Alaves C’s best moments, combining technical quality with a willingness to shoot from range. His goal was the standout strike of the match. For Leioa, Etxebarria made the difference from the bench, showing excellent movement to arrive at the back post for the late equaliser. Aitor Ceballos also impressed with his link-up play and first-half goal.

What the result means

The draw leaves both sides in the mid-table region of the Tercera División RFEF, with Alaves C ruing a missed opportunity to take all three points. Leioa will take confidence from their resilience, especially after twice coming from behind. In a division where away points are precious, the visitors’ late response could prove valuable over the course of the season.