Athletic Bilbao and Deportivo Alavés faced off recently at Mendizorroza, resulting in a tense 1-1 draw, which left both teams feeling like they dropped points. The early excitement came from Unai Gómez, who scored his first goal of the season, giving the lions a promising start against their rivals.
The match kicked off with Athletic Club dominating much of the first half. Their early goal set the tone, but as is often the case in football, dominance doesn’t always translate to victory. Alavés wasn’t about to roll over, and they pushed back hard. The team found their equalizer when Joan Jordán took advantage of a situation, potently converting after Guridi’s attempt.
Despite Athletic’s strong showing, their frustrations culminated after the full-time whistle when they protested against referee Sánchez Martínez for disallowing their apparent winning goal from Vivian. Reported by TSN Sports, it was stated, “The lions dropped two points in the second half and protested a disallowed goal from Vivian in stoppage time.” A decision like this can very well alter the momentum of the season.
Unai Simón, making his league debut as Athletic’s goalkeeper, showcased promising moments throughout the match, particularly when he denied several attempts from the Alavés forwards. His debut made the stakes even higher for him and his team, who were eager to maintain their strong position on the table. Athletic sit fourth after this match, which marks their position solid but fragile, considering upcoming fixtures.
Following the game, the atmosphere among the supporters was mixed with excitement and frustration. The players demonstrated their skills, but the result left much to be desired. With Galarreta and Jauregizar shining early on, they managed several near-misses, and their efforts highlighted the intensity of the derby.
The second half of the match saw Athletic Club trying to reclaim control, pushing Alavés back with their attacking flair. Yuri’s introduction for Adama was emblematic of Athletic's intent to refresh the squad dynamics and push for more scoring opportunities. Yet, Alavés held their ground, defending valiantly against the relentless Athletic incursions.
After taking the lead early on, Athletic seemed poised to treat their fans to three points, but the equalizer changed everything. Jordán's goal created uncertainty among the lions' ranks, raising doubts about their initial strategy. They closed the match on the front foot, scrambling to find another opening. Still, they only managed to produce one clear chance for Vivian—a moment they felt was stolen from them amid the contentious officiated play.
Although Alavés fought hard, the match did highlight their struggles as they approach future games. Like Athletic, they too will need to regain momentum quickly, particularly since they can ill afford to dwell on this draw. The coming weeks will reveal whether this result impacts their standings.
Moving forward, both teams must shake off the tension of this intense derby as they prepare for what lies next. Athletic will gather strength for their next derby encounter at El Sadar and hope to overcome the hurdles presented by this match. Meanwhile, Alavés will also analyze their performance, needing to find ways to convert opportunities on their home ground.
Reflecting on this tightly contested battle, the lions’ frustration is palpable as they ponder the officiated decisions—but frustration alone doesn’t win matches. Both Athletic Bilbao and Deportivo Alavés will leave this derby with reminders of what they need to improve on. Only time will tell how this chapter of their La Liga campaign will influence their paths forward.
