Luis Rioja scored against his former club to hand Valencia its first victory of the season in Vitoria. The result snapped Alavés’ strong start and eased pressure on the visitors. Injuries and tactical changes shaped a tense match.
Luis Rioja gave Valencia its first win of the season in Vitoria on September 15, 2026, scoring late in the match. The winger, just back from injury and facing his former club, finished a pass from Javi Guerra in the 78th minute. Alavés had looked in control until then, but Rioja’s goal stunned the home crowd. His night ended in tears when he aggravated his injury during the celebration and had to leave the pitch.
The match at Mendizorrotza was Óscar Sánchez’s first as Valencia’s interim coach after Carlos Corberán’s dismissal. Alavés, coming off a strong start to the season, saw plenty of the ball and threatened down the right through Ángel Pérez. The hosts could not turn their pressure into goals, with Toni Martínez and Pablo Ibáñez both missing good chances before halftime. Dimitrievski made two impressive saves before the break, denying Ángel Pérez and Ville Koski.
Valencia thought it had scored early, but Danjuma’s goal was ruled out for a narrow offside after a VAR check. The decision seemed to wake the visitors, who began testing Antonio Sivera with long-range shots but could not break through. Alavés responded by pressing higher and winning the ball in dangerous areas, but poor finishing let the team down.
After halftime, Alavés pushed harder, forcing Valencia to defend deep and look for chances on the counter. The second half slowed, but the hosts kept pressing until a lapse at the back let Javi Guerra slip through and set up Rioja for the winner. ESPN put the goal’s expected goals (xG) value at 0.36 and its expected goals on target (xGOT) at 0.58, a measure of the chance’s quality. Multiple sources also noted that Alavés controlled the match territorially but failed to capitalize on its opportunities, while Valencia took its basic moment.
Alavés threw players forward in the final minutes, desperate for an equalizer but lacking precision. Valencia nearly added a second on the break but settled for a narrow win that eased some early-season pressure. For Alavés, it was a second straight defeat, halting the team’s momentum in LaLiga EA Sports.
Both teams’ lineups reflected recent injuries and tactical tweaks. Alavés started with Sivera in goal, then Ángel Pérez, Valentini, Tenaglia, Koski, Abde Rebbach, Blanco, Ibáñez, Denis Suárez, Lucas Boyé, and Toni Martínez. Valencia’s eleven included Dimitrievski, Maffeo, Pepelu, De Haas, Gayà, Mayol, Guido, Ugrinic, Danjuma, Javi Guerra, and Duro, with Rioja coming off the bench to decide the match.
This result may not draw the headlines of Barcelona’s recent Champions League news, as reported earlier, but it marks a shift for Valencia. The team got a result under pressure despite injuries and a new coach. For Alavés, the loss exposes problems that could threaten its strong start if not addressed. The match turned on Guerra’s pass and Rioja’s finish, a decisive moment for both sides.
