The tension was palpable at the Martínez Valero as Elche and Alavés shared a hard-fought 1-1 draw, a result that leaves both teams still fighting for their lives in La Liga. The match was a true reflection of the high stakes involved, with each side desperate to escape the relegation zone.
Elche started with greater initiative, spurred on by their passionate home crowd and the need to bounce back from a 3-1 loss to Celta Vigo. They dominated possession early on, but were unable to break through a disciplined Alavés defense. Goalkeeper Sivera was in fine form, while the home side’s forwards lacked precision in front of goal.
The second half saw a shift in momentum. Alavés sat deeper, waiting for Elche to make a mistake. That mistake came in the 51st minute when a defensive lapse led to a penalty for the visitors. Toni Martínez stepped up and calmly slotted the ball into the net to give Alavés the lead.
The goal sparked a furious response from Elche. They poured forward with renewed intensity, searching for an equalizer. Their persistence paid off in the 71st minute when Álvaro Rodríguez, who had been a constant threat throughout the match, rose highest to meet a cross and head the ball past Sivera.
The final stages were frantic. Elche pushed for a winner, with Álvaro Rodríguez coming close to scoring a second, but his header went narrowly wide in stoppage time. At the other end, Alavés almost snatched all three points when Mañas struck the post with a late effort.
The draw leaves both teams still deep in the relegation battle, with only a handful of matches remaining. Elche will feel they dropped two points, while Alavés will be satisfied with a point on the road.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Álvaro Rodríguez (Elche)