Valencia picked up their first win of the season at Mendizorroza, beating Alavés with a late goal from Luis Rioja. Interim coach Óscar Sánchez’s side moves off the bottom of the table.
Valencia finally found relief in Vitoria, snapping their losing streak with a 1-0 win over Alavés. The only goal came late, when Luis Rioja finished off a sharp pass from Javi Guerra. It was a much-needed result for a team that had looked adrift in recent weeks.
Before this match, Mendizorroza had been a tough place for visitors—Alavés had won all three of their previous home games. Valencia, led by interim coach Óscar Sánchez after Carlos Corberán’s dismissal, arrived as clear underdogs. The club’s instability was obvious: Sánchez was only in charge temporarily, and the search for a permanent manager continued. Still, he made bold decisions, including giving 18-year-old Aarón Mayol his debut, a sign that changes were coming.
Valencia’s victory at Mendizorroza on September 15, 2026, was their first win of the season, ending a streak of four consecutive defeats and just one point from five matches.
Alavés, fourth in the table and off to a strong start, struggled to find their usual attacking rhythm. For the first 25 minutes, Valencia pressed high and moved the ball with a speed and structure that had been missing under Corberán. Guido, the Argentine midfielder, controlled play from the center and gave Valencia a sense of order they had lacked.
Valencia’s early control faded as Alavés settled in. Ángel Pérez forced two saves from Valencia goalkeeper Dimitrievski just before halftime. The hosts created more chances as the game went on, but couldn’t finish. Nahuel Tenaglia consistently won his battles with Danjuma, who struggled to make an impact and couldn’t link up with Hugo Duro.
In the second half, Valencia’s energy dropped and their attacks lost sharpness. Alavés pushed forward, bringing on Toni Martínez and Mariano to try to break the deadlock. The home crowd expected another win, but the key moment came from Valencia’s midfield. Javi Guerra, one of the few bright spots this season, intercepted the ball, turned quickly, and sent a long pass to Luis Rioja. Rioja, back at a familiar stadium, finished calmly to put Valencia ahead.
The match was played at Mendizorroza in Vitoria-Gasteiz and officiated by Miguel Sesma Espinosa. According to ESPN and Sky Sports, this result was seen as a turning point for Valencia after a turbulent week that saw both head coach Carlos Corberán and football CEO Ron Gourlay dismissed on September 13, 2026.
Guerra nearly set up a second goal minutes later, sprinting forward and passing to Otorbi, whose shot missed the target. It didn’t matter. Valencia’s defense held on, and the final whistle confirmed a result few had expected.
Behind the scenes, the club’s leadership remains unsettled. Sporting director Braulio Vázquez is still searching for a new coach, a job that has seen constant turnover since Marcelino left. No manager has lasted two years at Valencia since then, and the instability has clearly affected the team. Still, this win at Mendizorroza showed that the squad isn’t as broken as the standings suggested. Trusting young players and playing with more intensity paid off, exposing Alavés’ lack of finishing and giving Valencia something to build on. If the club can finally find some stability, this result could be more than just a brief break from trouble.
