Alaves Dominate 10-Man Getafe in LaLiga Opener

Alaves punish ten man Getafe in dominant LaLiga season opener

The 2026 27 LaLiga season began with a statement victory as Deportivo Alaves earned a commanding 3 to 0 win over Getafe in the season opener. The contest turned decisively in favour of Alaves shortly before half time when Kiko Femenia received a red card in the 40th minute, leaving Getafe with ten men for more than half the match.

Early red card changed the rhythm of the match

The first half unfolded as a competitive and tense affair until the dismissal of Femenia. Up to that point both sides had been looking to find rhythm in their first league outing of the campaign and were still working through the usual early season adjustments.

Femenia’s sending off arrived at a crucial moment. Reduced to ten players just before the interval, Getafe were forced into a more conservative approach. With the numerical advantage Alaves were able to increase their control of possession and territory after the break, patiently probing for openings against an increasingly stretched home defence.

The red card set the tactical pattern for the remainder of the game. Getafe had to prioritise defensive solidity while Alaves could commit more players forward and manage the tempo, confident that spaces would appear as the minutes passed.

Tenaglia breakthrough opened the floodgates

Alaves finally turned their dominance into a breakthrough in the 73rd minute. Nahuel Tenaglia struck to give the visitors a deserved 1 to 0 lead, capping a long spell of sustained pressure in the second half.

That goal forced Getafe to abandon their deep defensive posture and take more risks going forward despite being a man down. The change in approach created further opportunities for Alaves who found increasing room to attack in transition and exploit tired legs in the Getafe back line.

Tenaglia’s opener proved to be the turning point on the scoreboard. It rewarded Alaves for their patience and control and placed Getafe in a situation where they had to chase the game late on with limited resources.

Late goals from Mariano Diaz and Mike Rodriguez sealed the win

As Getafe pushed forward in search of an equaliser Alaves struck twice in stoppage time to secure a comprehensive victory. Mariano Diaz doubled the lead in the first minute of added time making it 2 to 0 and effectively ending any hope of a Getafe comeback.

Just three minutes later in the 94th minute Mike Rodriguez added a third goal to complete the scoring and give Alaves a emphatic 3 to 0 win. The late strikes reflected the physical and tactical toll of playing with ten men for more than fifty minutes. Getafe’s defensive structure which had held for much of the second half finally gave way under the sustained pressure and the need to commit players forward.

For Alaves the two stoppage time goals illustrated their superior energy and sharpness in the closing stages. They capitalised fully on the spaces that opened up as Getafe chased the game and turned a narrow victory into a commanding scoreline.

Perfect start for Alaves and early questions for Getafe

This comprehensive 3 to 0 result gave Alaves an ideal start to their LaLiga campaign. A clean sheet away from home combined with three different goalscorers provided reasons for optimism. Tenaglia Mariano Diaz and Mike Rodriguez all began the season on the scoresheet while the team showed patience and composure after the red card shifted the dynamic of the match.

For Getafe the defeat raised immediate questions about discipline and game management. Losing a key player in the 40th minute placed them in a difficult position in a challenging opening fixture. While they resisted for long periods in the second half the late collapse underlined how costly the sending off proved to be both in terms of the result and in terms of confidence at the start of the season.

PedTalks research indicated that the match would be a significant early test of both sides ambitions for the new campaign. On the evidence of this opening encounter Alaves emerged with momentum and belief while Getafe faced an early need for response in the coming fixtures after a punishing start to their LaLiga season.