The start of La Liga has seen plenty of standout performances. Aubameyang and his three goals for Deportivo A Coruña, Barcelona’s overwhelming dominance in all their matches, and Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid. However, there is a surprise guest at this party that nobody saw coming.
If a fan unfamiliar with Spanish football were to take a look at the league table, they would find that neither Real Madrid nor Atlético de Madrid are Barcelona’s main challengers, with the Catalan side topping the table with a perfect 12 points.
It is Deportivo Alavés, who, with 10 points from a possible 12, are proving to be the sensation of the season. The team managed by Quique Sánchez Flores has enjoyed the best start to a season in its history in the top flight and has already laid much of the groundwork for avoiding relegation. Ten goals scored and three conceded attest to the team’s fine work. Despite its lower status in the division, it boasts a very potent attacking arsenal.
Their 5-3-2 formation plays to their strengths and masks their weaknesses. Ángel Pérez on the right wing is a threat, as his three assists attest. He gives his all, and his great physical ability makes him a winning asset when it comes to getting into the box. Shielded by a back three that relieves him of much of the defensive burden.
Alavés are a side who, on the flanks, get a lot of players into the box on the manager’s instructions. Their two strikers, Lucas Boyé and Toni Martínez, are always to be found in the box.
The latter, who was injured a week ago, has been replaced by Mariano Díaz. The Dominican has enjoyed a resurgence as a player at Mendizorroza after years in which he was more in the news for his off-pitch behaviour than for his performances on the pitch.
Mariano has scored three goals and provided three assists in 168 minutes. His last La Liga goal came whilst playing for Real Madrid in May 2022. It is an unexpected resurgence, but one that helps Deportivo Alavés maintain their threat when one of their strikers is sidelined through injury.
It has been barely four months since Alavés secured their place in the Primera División with a 0–1 victory over Oviedo on the penultimate matchday. This summer, the club has decided to adopt a more austere transfer policy than usual, namely to retain all its own players and make a few minor adjustments that could raise the team’s standard.
The club has decided to place its trust in and allow a core group of players to develop – players who have been working together for many years and whose chemistry is well established. Far from being a policy of stagnation, this is a shrewd strategy on the part of Deportivo Alavés. Letting many players go to make way for an equal number of new signings involves a period of adaptation and learning new tactics, which in the top flight can prove costly and hinder the achievement of objectives.
The most high-profile departures are those of Guridi, who left on a free transfer to Sevilla, and Víctor Parada, who has joined Spartak Moscow for 8 million euros.
The transfer window has brought four new faces to Mendizorroza. The first is not actually a new signing but a return. Ville Koski has returned to Alavés on a permanent basis from NK Istra, having been on loan there from January to June. He has signed a contract until 2031 for a fee of around half a million euros.
Mikel Rodríguez arrived in Vitoria-Gasteiz from Real Sociedad for a fee of approximately 2 million euros. Real Sociedad retained a buy-back option for the central midfielder for the four years of his contract. His start to the season was so good that he quickly secured a place in the starting line-up, but a misstep in training resulted in a torn ACL that will keep him off the pitch for a long time.
Miguel Rodríguez has been the most expensive signing of the summer. Alavés have paid 5 million for his services, which run until June 2031. He is the second most expensive signing in the club’s history, behind Lucas Boyé. Due to his poor pre-season – having arrived late and out of shape – he has barely played 5 minutes, but there are high hopes pinned on him.
Finally, Nicolás Valentini arrived from Fiorentina to bolster the defence in a deal worth 3 million euros. His contract ties him to Deportivo Alavés until 2029 and, like Miguel, he joined late and has only managed to play 10 minutes. It is hoped that as the season progresses, he will get up to speed and secure a place in the starting eleven.
In Spain, media attention and the spotlight are always on Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atlético de Madrid. It’s lovely that, even if it only lasts a few weeks and they aren’t at the top of the table, underdog teams bring dignity to the competition with squads that are vastly inferior. It adds a touch of romance to the sport and, in a way, you find yourself rooting for them.
Football would be boring if there weren’t stories that remain etched in the memories of the fans themselves. Take Leicester City, for example, who surprised everyone by winning the Premier League just two years after returning to the top flight of English football, beating teams whose investment was many times greater than their own.
Realism reigns at Alavés. They know this is just a run of good form and that, sooner or later, the poor results will come. However, whilst this good run continues, excitement is running high in a small town with a population of just over 250,000 residents. “Life is a dance, and you’ve got to dance,” said the manager at a recent press conference.
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