Alaves, under Quique Sánchez Flores, began shaping their tactical identity for the new season in their opening pre-season friendly against Eibar, where the Albiazules showed flashes of a possible shift toward a more open shape. The side, which finished 14th in La Liga last term with 43 points -51 behind Barcelona- has already picked up three wins in its last five games, though it lost the last two, including the last official result: 1-2 to Rayo Vallecano on May 23, 2026.

What happened in Alaves’ Eibar friendly?

The Madrid-born boss stuck with the 5-3-2 that delivered strong returns late last season, featuring three centre-backs, two wing-backs and a three-man midfield. Protesoni, Álvaro García and Jonny Otto formed the back three, while Ángel Pérez and Yusi covered the flanks. In midfield, Antonio Blanco anchored alongside Selu Diallo and Aleñá, with Lucas Boyé and Mariano leading the attack. After the break, though, Alaves trialed a wider setup closer to a 4-4-2.

In that phase, Protesoni shifted to right-back and the team stretched play, exploiting the flanks more effectively. The match finished level, but the tactical takeaway was clear: Quique isn’t abandoning his trusted system outright, though he’s edging toward a four-at-the-back setup with two midfielders.

Why does this trial matter for Alaves?

Alaves scored 44 goals this season but conceded 56 -a -12 goal difference- highlighting the need to adjust their structure for sharper attacking output. The side, which finished 14th in La Liga with 11 wins, 10 draws and 17 losses, now looks to blend defensive solidity with greater verticality.

Mariano, who equalized in the friendly, strengthened his case to stay in the squad. The Argentine, who has bagged 11 goals in his last 15 games for Alaves, proved he can be a key piece up top. Meanwhile, Lucas Boyé brought energy and mobility, two traits Quique prizes in his strikers.

What’s next for Quique and Alaves?

The coach has made clear the base system will remain the 5-3-2, though he won’t rule out tweaks depending on the opponent. Alaves, which opened pre-season with a promising outing, now turns to the next friendlies to finalize its starting XI and iron out tactical details.

The squad, which has already logged three wins in its last five games, heads into the new campaign with momentum but needs to start strong. The side, which closed last term with back-to-back defeats, aims to snap that run and improve its goal return -44 scored, 56 conceded- to pull clear of the drop zone.