Alaves 2-1 Espanyol Player Ratings: Boye Rated 8.5/10 as First Half Blitz Secures 2-1 Victory

The home side burst out of the gates at Estadio de Mendizorroza. They looked like a team possessed from the first whistle. From our perspective, their intensity simply overwhelmed the visitors early on.

Denis Suárez got the party started just five minutes in, finishing with composure to put Alavés ahead. They didn't let up. The pressure was relentless. Just before the break, the brilliant Lucas Boyé added a second, and it felt like the match was already slipping away from Espanyol.

However, the visitors showed real character in the second half. Manager J. González Álvarez made some key changes, and his team responded. Substitute Roberto Fernández pulled a goal back with a well-taken header, setting up a nervy final thirty minutes. Despite Espanyol's huffing and puffing, Alavés managed the game expertly to hold on for all three points.

Here are Alaves Vs Espanyol Player Ratings

Alaves Player Ratings vs Espanyol

Here are Alaves Player Ratings vs Espanyol

Goalkeeper

Antonio Sivera - 6.5: He only made one official save but was commanding in his area. His distribution was a bit hit-and-miss, with many long balls going astray. Couldn't do much about the goal he conceded. A relatively quiet day, all things considered.

Defenders

Nahuel Tenaglia - 7.0: A solid and reliable performance at the back. He won most of his duels and was tidy in possession. Drew three fouls, showing his cleverness. A very composed outing from the defender.

Victor Parada - 7.0: Dominant in the air, winning five of his six aerial duels. Made an incredible seven clearances to relieve pressure. His passing was accurate, and he was a rock at the heart of the defence. What stood out to us was his no-nonsense approach.

Youssef Enríquez - 6.5: A mixed bag. He got forward well and created a big chance but was also a little loose in possession. His defensive work was mostly solid, contributing four clearances. An energetic performance, if a bit raw.

Jonny Otto - 7.0: A very tidy performance. He was excellent on the ball, rarely giving it away. Contributed two key passes and was solid defensively with two interceptions and two tackles. We noticed his positioning was excellent throughout the game.

Midfielders

Denis Suárez - 8.0: Opened the scoring with a fantastic finish inside five minutes. His passing was sublime, with a 96% accuracy rate. He was a creative force until he was subbed off. The yellow card was the only minor blip on an otherwise superb display.

Antonio Blanco - 7.5: The midfield general. He was everywhere, making five interceptions and three tackles. Broke up play brilliantly and kept his team ticking. His five blocked shots show his commitment to defending. A true warrior's performance.

Carles Aleñá - 6.5: A quiet but effective game. He kept possession well and worked hard for the team before being substituted. Didn't offer a huge threat going forward but did his job for the side. A professional, if unspectacular, outing.

Calebe - 7.0: Very impressive on the ball. His 95% pass accuracy was a joy to watch. He was strong in the tackle and comfortable dribbling past opponents. A really promising performance until he was taken off.

Forwards

Toni Martínez - 6.5: Worked his socks off for the team. Won a good number of his duels and held the ball up well. However, he didn't offer much of a goal threat himself. A tireless runner whose work rate was crucial.

Lucas Boyé - 8.5: Man of the Match. An absolute nightmare for the Espanyol defence. Scored a brilliant goal, completed six dribbles, and was a constant threat. He was simply unplayable at times. The yellow card hardly mattered given his overall impact, he was the highest-rated player for a reason.

Substitutes

Abde Rebbach - N/A: Came on for Carles Aleñá but didn't have enough time to make a significant impact.

Ander Guevara - N/A: Replaced Toni Martínez and helped see out the win.

Carlos Vicente - N/A: Had a late chance but couldn't convert. Brought fresh legs to the attack.

Pablo Ibáñez - N/A: A late sub for the goalscorer Denis Suárez to shore up the midfield.

Manager

E. Coudet - 7.5: His team started with incredible intensity and his game plan worked perfectly in the first half. They took their foot off the gas in the second, but he managed the game well to secure the three points. A deserved win for his tactical approach.

Espanyol Player Ratings vs Alaves

Here are Espanyol Player Ratings vs Alaves

Goalkeeper

Manuel Iori - 6.0: Made a couple of saves but was left exposed for both goals. His distribution was poor, with less than half of his long balls finding their target. A tough afternoon for the keeper, who couldn't do much to change the result.

Defenders

Rubén Sánchez - 5.5: An active but ultimately flawed performance. He made a direct error that led to a goal, which is a cardinal sin for a defender. Despite creating two chances and being busy, that mistake cost his team dearly. We were surprised he wasn't rated lower.

Leandro Cabrera - 5.5: A difficult day for the captain. He struggled in his duels, winning less than half of them, and was dribbled past twice. The defence looked disorganized in the first half, and as the leader, he has to take some responsibility.

Carlos Romero - 7.5: Espanyol's best player on the day. He was a constant threat down the left, providing a brilliant assist for his team's goal. Created three chances and was solid defensively. A real bright spark in a losing effort.

Clemens Riedel - 6.0: A decent performance in difficult circumstances. He was strong in his duels and made five important clearances. His passing was tidy, but the defence as a whole was too easily breached in the first 45 minutes.

Midfielders

Edu Expósito - 7.0: He was the main creative hub for Espanyol, creating three chances and testing the keeper with a shot on target. He worked hard defensively too, making three tackles. However, he lost possession too many times, which stalled some attacks.

Pol Lozano - 6.5: A busy performance in the middle of the park. He was excellent with the ball at his feet, boasting a 97% pass accuracy. He also made a high number of tackles and interceptions. From our perspective, he sometimes lacked that cutting edge in the final third.

Jofre Carreras - 5.5: Struggled to make an impact on the game. He was subbed off at halftime after a quiet first 45 minutes where he lost possession frequently. Not his best day at the office.

Antoniu Roca - 5.0: Another player who had a very quiet game. He was anonymous for large spells and was hooked at the break. Failed to offer any real threat and was easily contained by the Alavés defence.

Forwards

Pere Milla - 7.0: He was a livewire up front. Won a high percentage of his duels and created three chances for his teammates. Had three shots himself but couldn't find the back of the net. A tireless worker who never gave up.

Kike García - 5.0: A really frustrating performance. He had four shots but none of them troubled the keeper, and he missed a big chance. He looked off the pace and was eventually substituted. We expected a lot more from him.

Substitutes

Roberto Fernández - 7.5: Made the perfect impact. Came on at halftime and scored the goal that gave Espanyol hope. A fantastic header and a brilliant cameo.

Tyrhys Dolan - 6.0: Brought more energy than Antoniu Roca after coming on at the half, but couldn't create a clear-cut opportunity.

Ramon Terrats - 6.0: Came on for the injured Kike García and helped steady the ship.

Omar El Hilali - N/A: Replaced the struggling Rubén Sánchez late in the game.

Urko González de Zárate - N/A: A late substitution for Pol Lozano.

Manager

J. González Álvarez - 6.5: His team was caught cold and looked completely unprepared for Alavés's fast start. To his credit, his halftime changes worked, and his team showed great fight in the second half. Unfortunately, the damage was already done.

Sportsdunia's player of the match is Boye