Deportivo Alaves struck early and held firm to claim a precious 1-0 victory at the Estadio Nuevo Carlos Tartiere on Sunday, a result that could yet prove vital in their bid to navigate a fraught run-in. Toni Martínez's clinical finish inside 17 minutes — arriving from Abderrahman Rebbach's assist — proved the difference in a match shaped by Real Oviedo's territorial control and Alaves' clinical efficiency; with both sides fighting for survival in La Liga's closing stretch, this win will ease the visitors' nerves considerably.
Oviedo arrived at the fixture with possession on their minds but found themselves undone by Alaves' directness. Inside 17 minutes, Rebbach seized space down the left flank and delivered a low ball across the face of goal. Martínez, arriving at the back post with composure, tucked the ball beyond the goalkeeper to hand the visitors an unlikely lead. The hosts had barely settled into the encounter, and already they were chasing the game.
What followed was a study in frustration for the home crowd. With 70 per cent of the ball, Oviedo pressed for an equaliser throughout the first half, carving out patches of threat without ever seriously troubling the Alaves backline. The visitors, content to soak up pressure, offered little going forward but defended with discipline. Thiago Fernández was cautioned after 48 minutes for a trip, an early warning that tensions were rising as Oviedo grew increasingly desperate for a breakthrough.
The second half saw Oviedo pile forward relentlessly. Federico Viñas received a yellow card for roughing after 65 minutes, a sign of the physicality creeping into proceedings as the home side's frustration mounted. Both Lucas Ahijado and Youssef Enriquez were also booked — the latter in the closing stages — as Alaves dug in and refused to budge. Despite a flurry of substitutions from both benches after the hour mark, the pattern remained unchanged: Oviedo dominating the ball without finding a way past a resolute visiting defence.
Santi Cazorla was outstanding for Oviedo, orchestrating play from midfield throughout the 87 minutes he spent on the pitch and finishing with a rating of 7.7. The veteran midfielder's composure and range of passing were evident, yet even his influence could not unlock a stubborn Alaves rearguard. Dani Calvo, too, stood out in defence with a 7.5 rating, commanding the backline with authority despite the relentless pressure his team faced. For the visitors, Rebbach's assist proved invaluable before his departure at half-time, and it was his early creative spark that ultimately settled the tie.
Oviedo's bluntness in attack cost them dearly. With just one shot on target across the entire 90 minutes — compared to Alaves' equally modest single attempt — neither side threatened a goal-feast; yet the visitors' efficiency proved decisive. The hosts' tally of seven shots total reflected their intent but also their lack of precision in the final third, a familiar refrain for a side battling the drop.
This victory lifts Alaves a step closer to safety as the season enters its final weeks. With two matches remaining and the scrap for La Liga survival intensifying, the three points represent a statement of intent — a show that they possess the character and discipline to grind out results when it matters. For Oviedo, the defeat stings all the more given their superiority on the ball; they remain locked in a battle with multiple rivals for survival, and opportunities like this, squandered, could yet haunt them.