BARCELONA – Deportivo Alavés came from behind to beat RCD Espanyol 2-1 at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona on January 30, 2026. The loss keeps Espanyol without a win in 2026 through five matches (D1, L4), a rough stretch that dents their push for European spots.
For Alavés and coach Eduardo Coudet, this result snapped an eight-match away winless run and lifted them four points above the relegation zone. It was also their first away victory over Espanyol since March 2002.
Espanyol started with purpose and looked like a team chasing the top four. But they could not protect their lead. Alavés stayed calm, took their chances, and punished mistakes in transition.
Match recap
Espanyol struck first in the 15th minute. Carlos Romero worked space on the left and whipped in a clean cross. Roberto Fernández fought through his marker and drove a header past Antonio Sivera, giving the goalkeeper no real chance.
Alavés hit back quickly. In the 27th minute, captain Antonio Blanco brought the visitors level with a long-range effort that took a heavy deflection. His left-footed shot from outside the box glanced off an Espanyol defender, wrong-footed Joan García, and trickled in for 1-1.
After the break, the game tightened. Espanyol saw more of the ball in spells, but Alavés stayed compact and limited clear openings. The turning point came in the 71st minute. Alavés broke forward on a fast counter, Toni Martínez slid a pass into Lucas Boyé, and Boyé finished from close range to make it 2-1.
Espanyol pushed late, but Alavés managed the closing minutes and saw out stoppage time to secure three big points.
The defeat leaves Espanyol exposed in the upper part of the table, with teams like Real Betis and Celta Vigo applying pressure. Alavés, meanwhile, takes a major step in the fight to stay up.
Espanyol team overview
Espanyol sits fifth in La Liga with 34 points from 21 matches (10 wins, 4 draws, 7 losses). Their home record has been decent overall, but results have dipped lately.
Here’s a snapshot of key names from Espanyol’s 2025-26 squad:
| Position | Player Name | Age | Nationality | Appearances (League) | Goals | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Marko Dmitrović | 34 | Serbia | 21 | – | First-choice keeper |
| Goalkeeper | Ángel Fortuño | 24 | Spain | 0 | – | Backup option |
| Goalkeeper | Pol Tristán | 23 | Spain | 0 | – | Youth prospect |
| Forward | Roberto Fernández | – | Spain | – | 1 (this match) | Scored the opener |
| Defender | Fernando Calero | 30 | Spain | – | – | Regular center back |
| Midfielder | (Various) | – | – | – | – | Strong squad depth |
(Note: Full stats vary by source; Dmitrović has been a key figure with clean sheets and a high volume of saves.)
Alavés team overview
Alavés has been hovering in the 10th to 15th range, around 22 to 25 points based on earlier figures, and this win boosts that total. Their season has leaned on defensive discipline, while goals away from home had been hard to find before this match.
Key players from Alavés’ 2025-26 squad:
| Position | Player Name | Age | Nationality | Appearances (League) | Goals | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Antonio Sivera | 29 | Spain | 21 | – | Trusted shot-stopper |
| Defender | Facundo Garcés | 26 | Argentina | 6+ | – | Strong defender |
| Defender | Jon Pacheco | – | Spain | – | – | Key center back |
| Midfielder | Antonio Blanco | 25 | Spain | – | 1 (this match) | Captain scored an equalizer |
| Forward | Lucas Boyé | – | Argentina | – | 1 (this match) | Scored the winner |
| Midfielder | Ander Guevara | 28 | Spain | – | – | Drives play in midfield. |
This performance showed Alavés at their best on the break, with Blanco and Boyé delivering when it mattered.
Final take
La Liga keeps reminding everyone that the table doesn’t guarantee results. Espanyol had the early control, but they let the match slip and now need a quick reset to stop the slide. Alavés leaves Barcelona with a statement win, a cleaner path away from relegation trouble, and momentum they can build on.
