Deportivo Alavés defeated Getafe 3-0 at Mendizorroza in La Liga EA Sports on Saturday after substitute Mariano Díaz scored once and assisted twice.
The match turned in the 42nd minute when Getafe defender Kiko Femenía received a direct red card following a Video Assistant Referee review for a high tackle.
Alavés took full advantage of the numerical superiority in the second half, securing all three points in their opening fixture of the league season.
First Half Tensions and Red Card
The opening half at Mendizorroza was packed with fouls across both sides of the pitch. Alavés controlled the initiative during the first half hour, though neither team generated clear scoring opportunities.
Alavés pushed forward with long balls while bypassing their central midfield against a depleted Getafe side. Getafe manager José Bordalás organized a disciplined defensive structure without the ball, preventing early danger near goalkeeper David Soria. When Getafe found openings to attack, Alavés defender Nahuel Tenaglia stepped up to clear the danger in front of goalkeeper Antonio Sivera.
Referee Orellana Cid handed out early yellow cards to Getafe players Davinchi in the tenth minute and Mario Martín in the 23rd minute. The defining incident arrived three minutes before half-time when Femenía made a challenge with his studs raised high near his opponent's shin.
Orellana Cid initially issued a yellow card to Femenía. However, the VAR official requested an on-field review, leading the Andalusian referee to consult the screen, overturn the booking, and show a direct red card. Alavés midfielder Denis received a yellow card deep in first-half stoppage time.
Mariano Díaz Sparks Second Half Breakthrough
Getafe restructured at the break by introducing Enes Ünal for Davinchi. Despite having a one-man advantage, Alavés struggled initially to break down the visiting defense.
Alavés manager Quique Sánchez Flores made a decisive move in the 57th minute, replacing Mañas with Mariano Díaz and swapping Denis for Mikel Rodríguez. Mariano rewarded his coach's faith on his first touch, setting up Tenaglia to break the deadlock with a header in the 73rd minute.
Both teams rotated their squads as the half progressed. Alavés brought on Yusi for Ángel in the 65th minute, shortly before Abde Rebbach picked up a yellow card in the 66th minute. Getafe sent on Risco for Mario Martín in the 66th minute and introduced Valou for Satriano immediately after conceding the opening goal.
Late Goals Crown Victory at Mendizorroza
Getafe defender Djené received a yellow card in the 77th minute before being replaced by Saba Sazonov in the 81st minute, while Boselli came on for Andrés García. Alavés midfielder Antonio Blanco was booked in the 85th minute as Getafe committed players forward in desperate search of an equalizer.
Mariano doubled the lead in the 92nd minute by striking a shot into the top corner of the net during a quick counterattack against Getafe's exposed defense.
Quique Sánchez Flores made final substitutions in the 94th minute, bringing on Ander Guevara for Blanco and Carles Aleñá for Rebbach. In the same minute, Mariano delivered his second assist, setting up Mikel Rodríguez to score his first La Liga goal and seal the 3-0 victory.
Match Details and Tributes
Before kickoff, a minute of silence was observed at Mendizorroza in memory of Alavés season ticket holders who died during the previous season, as well as the victims of the earthquake in Colombia. A crowd of 13,923 spectators attended the match in Vitoria.
Deportivo Alavés lineup: Sivera; Ángel (Yusi, min 65), Tenaglia, Koski, Jonny, Rebbach (Aleñá, min 94); Blanco (Guevara, min 94), Ibáñez, Denis (Mikel Rodríguez, min 57); Toni Martínez, Mañas (Mariano, min 57).
Getafe CF lineup: Soria; Femenía, Djené (Sazonov, min 81), Abqar, Romero, Davinchi (Ünal, min 46); Terrats, Mario Martín (Risco, min 66), Mangala; Andrés García (Boselli, min 81), Satriano (Valou, min 73).
Goals: 1-0, min 73: Tenaglia; 2-0, min 92: Mariano; 3-0, min 94: Mikel Rodríguez.
Discipline: Referee Orellana Cid (Andalusian Committee) sent off Kiko Femenía with a direct red card in the 42nd minute. Yellow cards were shown to Denis (min 48+), Rebbach (min 66), and Blanco (min 85) for Alavés, and to Davinchi (min 10), Mario Martín (min 23), and Djené (min 77) for Getafe.
