Alaves suffer defeat in pre-season friendly against Girona with two early goals

Deportivo Alaves kicked off their pre-season with a poor showing, falling 2-0 to Girona in the Club Friendlies 3 de Amicaux Club match played on Saturday, July 25, 2026 at 10:30 local time. Both goals came within the opening 20 minutes, with a brace from Sávio (minute 12 and 18) leaving the white-and-blue side with no answers against a defensively fragile team.

Manager Pablo Machín fielded a very experimental starting XI, mixing first-team regulars like Antonio Sivera in goal with young prospects and academy players. The lack of competitive rhythm showed from the start, especially in defensive transitions where Girona found constant space.

What happened in the match?

Girona dominated from the first whistle. Sávio, the Brazilian winger Alaves signed in the winter window, was the main threat with two curling strikes that beat Sivera. The first came after a dazzling individual run, while the second was a left-footed drive from outside the box that found the top corner.

Alaves barely created clear chances in the first half. Jon Guridi and Nico Williams -who played as a left winger- were the most active, but failed to convert. In the second half, Machín introduced changes to try to respond, but the damage was already done. Alaves finished with just 10% of shots on target despite Girona controlling 60% of possession.

Why this friendly matters for Alaves

This friendly was crucial for Machín to assess his squad’s level after a tough season. The team finished 14th in La Liga 2024-25 with 43 points (11W-10D-17L) and a goal difference of -12 (44 scored, 56 conceded). The 1-2 loss to Rayo Vallecano on May 23, 2026 highlighted the difficulties competing in the bottom half of the table.

Pre-season is vital for Alaves to arrive ready for the new campaign. The fans expect to see improvements in defensive solidity and more cutting edge in attack, especially after a run of just 3 wins in their last 5 matches (LLWWW). Machín will need to work hard in the remaining friendlies to avoid repeating the errors of last season.

Lineups and manager reactions

Alaves lined up in a 4-2-3-1 with Sivera; Aguirregabiria, Lejeune, Gorosabel, López; Pons, Guevara; Nico Williams, Guridi, Omorodion; Stoichkov. In the second half, Reyes, Tenaglia and Alkain came on to try to mount a comeback, but to no avail.

After the match, Machín admitted that "the team was not up to the mark" and stressed the need to correct mistakes. Sávio, meanwhile, expressed satisfaction with his performance and said that "the group is working well".

Alaves remain in pre-season preparation with two more friendlies scheduled before La Liga kicks off on August 16, 2026.