VITORIA-GASTEIZ, Spain, October 23, 2026: Substitute Aitor Mañas scored an 89th-minute equalizer as Deportivo Alavés fought back to draw 1-1 with Málaga at Mendizorroza on Friday, denying the promoted visitors their first La Liga victory of the 2026-27 season. Adrián Niño had given Málaga the lead shortly before halftime, but Alavés’ mounting second-half pressure finally paid off when Mañas converted a rebound after Alfonso Herrero saved Toni Martínez’s header. The equalizer prompted protests from Málaga over an alleged foul on defender Ángel Recio earlier in the move, but the goal stood.
Alavés finished with 18 shots to Málaga’s six, struck the woodwork and nearly completed the comeback in stoppage time. Yet the result leaves Quique Sánchez Flores’ side without a victory in six consecutive league matches despite collecting 12 points from their opening ten games. For Juanfran Funes and Málaga, the draw is even more painful. They have five points from ten matches, remain bottom of the standings and have now gone almost a quarter of their first season back in Spain’s top division without winning. Niño’s fourth league goal had brought them within minutes of ending that wait.
Alavés vs Málaga: La Liga Matchday 10 Result
The first fixture of Matchday 10 brought together two clubs under contrasting forms of pressure.
Alavés needed to recover from a run of disappointing results after an encouraging start to the campaign. Málaga needed something more urgent: their first league victory since returning to the top division.
Story at a glance
Alavés vs Málaga: La Liga Matchday 10 Result
The first fixture of Matchday 10 brought together two clubs under contrasting forms of pressure.
Adrián Niño Puts Málaga Ahead With a Clinical First-Half Finish
Málaga arrived in Vitoria with little margin for another disappointment.
Quique Sánchez Flores Changes Alavés’ Shape After Halftime
Alavés needed to respond after a first half in which their attacking play had become increasingly predictable.
How Aitor Mañas Scored the 89th-Minute Equalizer
The defining attacking move began on Alavés’ right.
Why Málaga Disputed the Equalizer
The equalizer produced one of the most contentious moments of the match.
| Match detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Competition | La Liga 2026-27 |
| Matchday | 10 |
| Date | Friday, October 23, 2026 |
| Venue | Estadio de Mendizorroza, Vitoria-Gasteiz |
| Final score | Deportivo Alavés 1-1 Málaga CF |
| Halftime | Alavés 0-1 Málaga |
| Alavés scorer | Aitor Mañas, 89th minute |
| Málaga scorer | Adrián Niño, 44th minute |
| Alavés head coach | Quique Sánchez Flores |
| Málaga head coach | Juanfran Funes |
| Referee | Carlos Muñiz Muñoz |
| Points after the match | Alavés 12; Málaga 5 |
Timing note: Málaga’s official match-center data records Niño’s goal at 43′ and Mañas’ at 88′, representing elapsed match minutes. Contemporary reports also describe them as goals in the 44th and 89th minutes.
The result and match record appear in Málaga CF’s official postmatch report.
Adrián Niño Puts Málaga Ahead With a Clinical First-Half Finish
Málaga arrived in Vitoria with little margin for another disappointment.
Nine league games had brought four draws and five defeats. Their most recent outing was a 5-2 home loss against Real Sociedad, a match in which Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice and Málaga again struggled to prevent opponents from creating dangerous opportunities.
That defeat formed part of The Sports Encounter’s La Liga Matchday 9 analysis, which also examined Alavés’ 2-1 defeat against Celta Vigo.
Funes responded by adjusting his starting lineup, bringing Ramón Enríquez and Adam Aznou into the side.
Málaga initially faced pressure from the hosts.
Nahuel Tenaglia forced Alfonso Herrero into an early save, while Pablo Ibáñez tried his luck from outside the penalty area.
However, Málaga gradually established enough control to create attacking opportunities of their own.
Carlos Dotor missed an inviting opening around the 40th minute after Niño recovered possession and supplied a pass near the edge of the penalty area.
That missed opportunity could have proved costly.
Instead, the visitors struck shortly afterward.
Ramón Enríquez threaded a pass through the Alavés defense, finding Niño as he advanced toward goal.
The forward controlled the ball and finished with his left foot beyond Antonio Sivera.
The assistant referee initially flagged the move for offside, but the goal was allowed following VAR consideration.
Málaga led 1-0 at halftime.
Niño Extends His Scoring Run but Cannot Deliver the Victory
The goal was Niño’s fourth in La Liga this season.
That tally is particularly encouraging because the 22-year-old missed Málaga’s opening four league matches with a soleus injury.
His return in September immediately strengthened the team’s attacking options.
Against Celta Vigo, Niño scored an 83rd-minute equalizer to earn a 1-1 draw in his first league appearance of the campaign.
The Sports Encounter examined his injury recovery and decisive contribution in its report on Niño’s return against Celta.
Friday demonstrated once again why he has become so important to Málaga.
His movement behind the defensive line gave Ramón a clear passing target, while his first touch allowed him to complete the finish before Sivera could intervene.
It was the type of composed attacking action that Málaga had often lacked during their opening league fixtures.
Yet a fourth individual goal produced only another point.
That distinction has become one of the central frustrations of Málaga’s return to the top flight.
Quique Sánchez Flores Changes Alavés’ Shape After Halftime
Alavés needed to respond after a first half in which their attacking play had become increasingly predictable.
Sánchez Flores introduced Hugo Novoa at halftime in place of Carles Aleñá.
He then made two further changes in the 55th minute, bringing on Denis Suárez and Youssef Enríquez for Abde Rebbach and Nicolás Valentini.
Those substitutions gave Alavés different passing and attacking options, particularly when moving the ball into wide areas.
The hosts began spending longer periods in Málaga’s half.
Lucas Boyé produced one of the clearest opportunities, working space inside the penalty area before driving an effort against the post.
Málaga continued defending with determination, and Herrero repeatedly helped preserve the visitors’ lead.
However, the growing pressure forced the visitors to spend more time protecting their penalty area than developing attacks of their own.
There were still opportunities to counter.
Niño and José Salinas both threatened to extend Málaga’s advantage, but neither could provide the second goal that might have made the closing stages less dangerous.
The longer the match remained 1-0, the greater the value of every defensive action became.
Toni Martínez and Aitor Mañas Become the Decisive Substitutes
With Alavés still trailing, Sánchez Flores made two further attacking changes.
Toni Martínez replaced Mariano Díaz in the 66th minute.
Aitor Mañas entered for captain Antonio Blanco in the 75th.
Both players would become directly involved in the equalizer.
Martínez added another physical presence inside the penalty area, while Mañas offered an additional runner capable of reacting to loose balls.
The changes helped Alavés increase the pressure on Málaga during the final quarter-hour.
How Aitor Mañas Scored the 89th-Minute Equalizer
The defining attacking move began on Alavés’ right.
Ángel Pérez delivered a cross into the penalty area, where Toni Martínez met the ball with a powerful header.
Alfonso Herrero produced an excellent reflex save to prevent the equalizer.
But the goalkeeper could not hold the rebound.
Mañas reacted quickly inside the six-yard area and sent the loose ball into the net.
The score was 1-1.
The finish provided Mañas with his first goal in Spain’s top division and ensured that Alavés would not suffer another home defeat.
It also illustrated why Sánchez Flores’ substitutions mattered.
Martínez forced the save, Mañas completed the attack, and Pérez’s delivery provided the initial opportunity.
The equalizer came from a sequence involving players whose second-half contributions had helped change Alavés’ attacking approach.
Alavés vs Málaga: Key Match Events and Substitutions
| Minute | Incident | Match consequence |
|---|---|---|
| 39′ | Lucas Boyé booked | Early disciplinary caution for Alavés |
| 44′ | Adrián Niño scores | Málaga lead 1-0 after offside review |
| 46′ | Hugo Novoa replaces Carles Aleñá | Alavés alter their attacking setup |
| 55′ | Denis Suárez and Youssef Enríquez enter | Fresh passing and wide options |
| 66′ | Toni Martínez replaces Mariano Díaz | Additional presence in the box |
| 75′ | Aitor Mañas replaces Antonio Blanco | Future equalizer scorer enters |
| 77′ | Nakashima not involved; Málaga replace Niño with Chupe | Málaga refresh their forward line |
| 84′ | Carlos Dotor booked | Late caution for Málaga |
| 89′ | Aitor Mañas scores | Alavés equalize 1-1 |
| Stoppage time | Alavés threaten again | Both teams finish with one point |
The scoring sequence also left Alavés with a brief opportunity to complete the turnaround.
Ángel Pérez sent an effort against the crossbar, while Boyé came close with a shot that passed narrowly wide after taking a slight deflection.
Málaga survived those final attacks, but by then their opportunity to collect three points had already disappeared.
Why Málaga Disputed the Equalizer
The equalizer produced one of the most contentious moments of the match.
Málaga players and coaching staff protested that Pablo Ibáñez had stepped on Ángel Recio during the buildup.
Recio went down following the contact, but play continued and Alavés completed the scoring move.
Funes argued that the contact should have resulted in a foul, which would have prevented the goal from standing.
Speaking after the match, the Málaga coach described the contact as a clear foul on Recio and argued that it prevented the defender from continuing normally.
His disagreement was sufficiently strong that he received a yellow card for protesting.
The equalizer nevertheless stood.
Former Spanish referee Eduardo Iturralde González later supported the decision, arguing that Ibáñez had played the ball first and that the subsequent foot contact followed naturally from his movement.
That interpretation differed from Málaga’s view of the incident.
The distinction is important when reporting a disputed refereeing decision.
The contact itself was visible and became the basis of Málaga’s complaint. Whether it constituted a punishable foul was a matter of interpretation under the applicable rules.
The official outcome remains unchanged: Mañas’ goal counted and the teams shared the points.
For Málaga, the frustration was understandable. The visitors were approaching the end of a match in which they had defended their lead for almost an entire half.
For Alavés, the equalizer rewarded a sustained attacking response after a disappointing first 45 minutes.
Alavés Register 18 Shots but Need a Rebound to Score
The final statistics offer useful evidence of the game’s changing direction.
Alavés attempted three times as many shots as Málaga, finishing with 18 against six.
The hosts also registered seven corners compared with two for the visitors.
Despite that attacking advantage, possession was divided evenly.
The difference highlights an important aspect of Friday’s match.
Alavés did not need to dominate possession throughout the entire contest to create most of its shooting opportunities.
Instead, their growing territorial pressure, wide deliveries and late substitutions produced the more dangerous attacking sequences.
Alavés 1-1 Málaga: Full-Time Team Statistics
| Statistic | Alavés | Málaga |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | 1 | 1 |
| Total shots | 18 | 6 |
| Shots on target | 5 | 3 |
| Shots off target | 7 | 2 |
| Blocked shots | 6 | 1 |
| Possession | 50% | 50% |
| Passes | 426 | 464 |
| Corners | 7 | 2 |
| Crosses | 22 | 3 |
| Fouls | 14 | 12 |
| Yellow cards | 2 | 1 |
| Red cards | 0 | 0 |
Statistics: Published full-time match-data summary. Shots on target are derived consistently from total shots minus off-target and blocked efforts: Alavés 18 – 7 – 6 = 5; Málaga 6 – 2 – 1 = 3. Figures may differ slightly among providers because of event-classification rules.
The 22-to-three difference in crosses is particularly revealing.
Alavés repeatedly looked to deliver the ball into crowded areas, especially after changing their personnel during the second half.
Málaga relied more heavily on defending their penalty area and looking for isolated attacking opportunities.
The strategy nearly delivered a rare away victory.
However, the number of crosses and shots Alavés produced meant Málaga had to defend an increasingly large volume of attacking situations.
Eventually, one sequence generated two close-range attempts. Herrero saved the first, but Mañas converted the rebound.
The Hidden Statistical Story: Alavés Produced Three Times as Many Shots
The most revealing statistical difference was not simply possession or passing volume.
Alavés and Málaga each controlled the ball for approximately half the match.
Yet Alavés produced 18 shots compared with six for the visitors.
That represents three Alavés attempts for every Málaga attempt.
The hosts also created 22 crosses compared with only three by Málaga.
That is a ratio of approximately 7.33 to one.
TSE Original Calculation: Attacking Volume vs Finishing
| Metric | Alavés | Málaga |
|---|---|---|
| Shots per goal | 18 | 6 |
| Shots on-target rate | 27.8% | 50.0% |
| Goal conversion from shots | 5.6% | 16.7% |
| Crosses attempted | 22 | 3 |
| Crosses per goal | 22 | 3 |
| Corners earned | 7 | 2 |
TSE calculations: Shots on-target rate equals shots on target divided by total shots. Alavés 5/18 = 27.8%; Málaga 3/6 = 50.0%. Goal conversion equals one goal divided by total shots, giving Alavés 5.6% and Málaga 16.7%. These are descriptive match statistics, not expected-goals estimates or measures of chance quality.
The comparison helps explain why both clubs can draw different lessons from the result.
Alavés produced much greater attacking volume but required 18 attempts to score once.
Málaga produced comparatively few attempts but converted one of them into a goal that almost secured victory.
Alavés must improve their finishing if they intend to translate sustained pressure into more victories.
Málaga must find ways to create more opportunities without losing the defensive organization that kept them ahead for much of Friday’s match.
Alavés’ Early-Season Momentum Has Disappeared
The draw continues a difficult sequence for Sánchez Flores’ team.
Alavés made an outstanding start to the season, taking ten points from their first four league games.
That early run included a remarkable 5-2 victory over Osasuna, with Lucas Boyé scoring a hat trick.
The result briefly lifted Alavés into second place and suggested they might become one of the season’s unexpected challengers near the European qualification positions.
The Sports Encounter examined that performance in its Matchday 4 analysis of Alavés’ rise and Boyé’s hat trick.
However, the results became less convincing after that impressive opening.
Racing Santander handed Alavés their first league defeat, recovering from an early deficit to win 2-1.
TSE documented that reversal in its report on Racing ending Alavés’ unbeaten start.
Valencia then won 1-0 at Mendizorroza through Luis Rioja’s late goal against his former club.
That defeat featured in TSE’s analysis of Valencia’s first victory under Óscar Sánchez.
Alavés subsequently earned a goalless draw against Athletic Club, thanks in large part to Antonio Sivera’s penalty save from Oihan Sancet.
The defensive resilience behind that result was examined in TSE’s report on the Basque derby at San Mamés.
Defeats to Atlético Madrid and Celta Vigo followed before Friday’s 1-1 draw.
Six matches without a victory have changed the immediate expectations surrounding Alavés.
Alavés’ Results Since Their First League Defeat
| Matchday | Opponent | Result | Points earned |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Racing Santander (away) | Lost 1-2 | 0 |
| 6 | Valencia (home) | Lost 0-1 | 0 |
| 7 | Athletic Club (away) | Drew 0-0 | 1 |
| 8 | Atlético Madrid (home) | Lost 1-2 | 0 |
| 9 | Celta Vigo (away) | Lost 1-2 | 0 |
| 10 | Málaga (home) | Drew 1-1 | 1 |
| Six-game total | 0 wins, 2 draws, 4 defeats | 4 goals for, 8 against | 2 |
TSE calculation based on the published league results from Matchdays 5-10. Alavés collected two points from a possible 18, or 11.1% of the available points.
The comparison with Alavés’ opening four fixtures is stark.
They collected ten of the first 12 available points but only two of the next 18.
Friday’s equalizer prevented another defeat, but it did not end the team’s winless streak.
That is why the point is both valuable and insufficient.
Málaga’s Ten-Match Winless Start: How Close Have They Come?
Málaga’s situation is more serious.
The promoted side remain without a win after ten matches, with five draws and five defeats.
They have scored seven goals and conceded 19.
The pattern is more complicated than simply losing repeatedly.
Funes’ team have drawn matches against Deportivo La Coruña, Levante, Celta Vigo, Espanyol and now Alavés.
Several of those games have demonstrated the ability to remain competitive against established opponents.
However, converting performances into victories has been the missing element.
Málaga’s First Ten La Liga Results in 2026-27
| Round | Opponent | Result | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atlético Madrid (away) | Lost 0-2 | 0 |
| 2 | Deportivo La Coruña (home) | Drew 1-1 | 1 |
| 3 | Real Madrid (away) | Lost 0-4 | 0 |
| 4 | Levante (home) | Drew 0-0 | 1 |
| 5 | Celta Vigo (away) | Drew 1-1 | 1 |
| 6 | Villarreal (home) | Lost 1-3 | 0 |
| 7 | Getafe (away) | Lost 0-1 | 0 |
| 8 | Espanyol (home) | Drew 1-1 | 1 |
| 9 | Real Sociedad (home) | Lost 2-5 | 0 |
| 10 | Alavés (away) | Drew 1-1 | 1 |
| Total | 10 matches | 0 wins, 5 draws, 5 defeats | 5 |
The table reveals an important characteristic of Málaga’s difficult start.
They have been capable of collecting draws but have struggled to turn favorable situations into wins.
Against Villarreal in September, Carlos Dotor gave Málaga the lead before Alberto Moleiro and Pape Gueye overturned the advantage in a 3-1 defeat.
The Sports Encounter examined the tactical changes behind that reversal in its report on Villarreal’s comeback at La Rosaleda.
Against Alavés, Málaga came considerably closer to securing three points.
They defended their advantage until the 89th minute and forced Herrero into another demanding performance.
But the ending remained familiar: another opportunity to win, another result that stopped short of providing three points.
Niño Has Scored More Than Half of Málaga’s League Goals
Málaga’s attack also contains a revealing statistical imbalance.
Niño has scored four of the team’s seven league goals.
That accounts for 57.1% of Málaga’s total scoring output.
The other three goals have come from Carlos Dotor, Chupe and Toni Martínez.
The figure highlights both Niño’s importance and the team’s difficulty finding regular goals from other players.
Funes has attacking options, including David Larrubia and several forwards capable of challenging defenders in different ways.
However, Málaga have yet to establish a sufficiently reliable scoring pattern across the squad.
That challenge matters because relying on one forward to provide the majority of goals places additional pressure on the team’s defensive organization.
When a side scores only once, a single defensive mistake can turn a possible victory into a draw.
Friday demonstrated exactly that risk.
There was no evidence that Niño’s injury had returned or affected his performance in Vitoria. His early-season absence is relevant as historical context, but his latest goal demonstrates that he continues contributing to Málaga’s attack.
What Does the 1-1 Draw Mean for the La Liga Table?
The point lifted Alavés to 12 from ten matches and Málaga to five from ten.
Alavés occupied seventh place immediately after the Friday fixture, although that position remained provisional with other Matchday 10 games still to be played.
Continue the La Liga Story
Málaga remained 20th.
The gap between the teams was therefore seven points.
Before and After: Alavés and Málaga’s League Records
| Metric | Alavés before | Alavés after | Málaga before | Málaga after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Played | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 |
| Won | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Drawn | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Lost | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Goals for | 13 | 14 | 6 | 7 |
| Goals against | 10 | 11 | 18 | 19 |
| Goal difference | +3 | +3 | -12 | -12 |
| Points | 11 | 12 | 4 | 5 |
| Points per game | 1.22 | 1.20 | 0.44 | 0.50 |
TSE calculations from the official pre-match records and the confirmed 1-1 result. Points-per-game figures are rounded to two decimal places. These are team records immediately after Friday’s match, not final Matchday 10 league standings.
The point prevents Alavés from falling further behind teams competing near the European positions.
However, the team’s recent winless sequence creates a greater concern than its provisional seventh-place standing might suggest.
Málaga’s point increases their season tally but leaves them still searching for a result that could materially change their position.
The official La Liga match page records the fixture, competition context and pre-match team statistics.
A Historic Venue for Málaga, but Still No Victory
The fixture also carried a historical connection that goes back to Málaga’s first season in the top division under the modern club identity.
Mendizorroza was the venue for Málaga CF’s first away fixture in La Liga during the 1999-2000 campaign.
That match ended in a 2-1 defeat, with Catanha scoring for Málaga.
Before Friday, Málaga had visited Alavés seven times in the top division, recording two wins, one draw and four defeats.
Their most recent previous top-flight visit came during the 2017-18 season, when Alavés won 1-0.
Friday’s draw adds another chapter to that history, although the current circumstances make it more consequential for Málaga than an ordinary away point.
The club is attempting to reestablish itself at the highest level after returning from the second division.
Its first ten games have shown competitive moments, but not yet the sustained finishing and defensive control required to secure a league victory.
Málaga’s official pre-match statistical preview documents the historical record, the players’ scoring totals and the club’s away form entering the fixture.
What Comes Next for Alavés and Málaga?
Both teams now prepare for demanding away assignments on Saturday, October 31.
Alavés visit Barcelona, who have made a perfect start to the season and are preparing for El Clásico against Real Madrid on October 25.
The match will present a considerably more difficult examination of Sánchez Flores’ defensive organization and his team’s ability to convert limited scoring opportunities.
The recent run of six matches without victory is concerning because Alavés have demonstrated that they can compete effectively when their defensive structure is organized.
However, the games against Valencia, Atlético Madrid and Celta have revealed an inability to consistently turn competitive passages into results.
Barcelona will punish similar mistakes if Alavés cannot maintain their defensive concentration for the full match.
Málaga travel to Real Betis on the same day.
The Andalusian contest will give Funes another opportunity to secure the club’s first league victory.
Betis have also started the campaign strongly, making the assignment difficult for a side already struggling for points.
Málaga will need to take the positives from Friday’s performance without ignoring the circumstances of the equalizer.
The visitors defended with greater determination than they displayed against Real Sociedad and produced an effective attacking move through Ramón and Niño.
Yet they allowed Alavés to create substantial second-half pressure, eventually surrendering a goal from a rebound.
The next performance must combine that attacking efficiency with greater defensive control if Málaga are to change their winless record.
Alavés vs Málaga 1-1: Frequently Asked Questions
What was the final score between Alavés and Málaga on October 23, 2026?
Deportivo Alavés and Málaga CF drew 1-1 at Mendizorroza in La Liga Matchday 10.
Who scored for Málaga?
Adrián Niño scored shortly before halftime, finishing a pass from Ramón Enríquez. It was his fourth league goal of the season.
Who scored the equalizer for Alavés?
Substitute Aitor Mañas equalized in the 89th minute after following up Toni Martínez’s header, which Alfonso Herrero had saved.
Why was the equalizer controversial?
Málaga protested that Pablo Ibáñez had fouled Ángel Recio during the buildup. The officials allowed play to continue, and the goal stood. The interpretation of the contact remained disputed.
Did Málaga win their first La Liga match of the season?
No. The draw left Málaga without a victory after ten league games, with five draws and five defeats.
How many shots did Alavés have?
Alavés recorded 18 shots, including five on target. Málaga registered six shots, including three on target.
How many points do Alavés and Málaga have?
Immediately after the match, Alavés had 12 points from ten games and Málaga had five from ten.
How many goals has Adrián Niño scored this season?
Niño has scored four league goals in 2026-27, accounting for four of Málaga’s seven goals through Matchday 10.
When do Alavés and Málaga play next?
Both teams are scheduled to play October 31, 2026. Alavés visit Barcelona, while Málaga face Real Betis away.
The Sports Encounter Verdict: Málaga Were Minutes Away, Alavés Still Need a Win
Friday’s match offered two different forms of frustration.
For Málaga, Adrián Niño provided the goal that had the potential to change their season.
It came from an intelligent passing move, a composed finish and the contribution of a forward who has already become the team’s most productive scorer.
Funes’ team defended with determination and appeared close to securing three points against an opponent struggling for consistency.
But one late sequence changed everything.
Alavés had spent much of the second half attempting to break through a crowded defensive structure. Their substitutions increased the pressure, Toni Martínez forced Herrero into a difficult save, and Aitor Mañas reacted quickest to the rebound.
The disputed contact on Recio remains part of the story, but the result also raises a broader question about Málaga’s ability to protect a lead when opponents generate sustained attacking pressure.
For Alavés, the equalizer prevented another defeat and demonstrated that the bench can provide valuable solutions.
Yet six consecutive league matches without winning represent a warning that their brilliant opening month is no longer translating into results.
The two clubs have different expectations and very different positions in the table.
They share one immediate need: turning promising performances into victories.
Málaga travel to Betis still waiting for their first. Alavés visit Barcelona trying to rediscover the winning form that once lifted them into second place.
Follow The Sports Encounter’s soccer coverage for continuing La Liga match reports, analysis, player performances and developments across the European leagues.
