Athletic Club storms back to beat Alavés 4-2 at Mendizorroza

Key facts

• Athletic Club defeated Alavés 4-2 on 2 May 2026 at Mendizorroza.
• Attendance was 19,125.
• Robert Navarro opened the scoring in the 46th minute for Athletic Club.
• Oihan Sancet scored in the 74th minute.
• Nico Williams scored twice, in the 83rd and 87th minutes.
• Carles Aleñá received a yellow card for a bad foul.
• Alavés had players injured: Carlos Protesoni (leg), Lucas Boyé (hamstring, out until mid-May), Maroan Sannadi (physical discomfort), Beñat Prados (cruciate ligament).

A second-half blitz turns the tide

Athletic Club overturned a deficit to defeat Deportivo Alavés 4-2 at the Mendizorroza stadium on Saturday, 2 May 2026, in a La Liga encounter that burst into life after halftime. The visitors scored four goals in the second period, with Nico Williams netting twice in the final seven minutes to seal the victory. The match, watched by 19,125 spectators, had been tightly contested until the interval. Alavés held firm, but the game changed dramatically after the restart.

Navarro and Sancet strike before Williams double

Robert Navarro broke the deadlock in the 46th minute, scoring just after the second half began. Oihan Sancet doubled Athletic Club's lead in the 74th minute, putting the visitors in control. However, Alavés fought back. The home side pulled a goal back, and with the score at 2-1, the match remained open. Nico Williams then took over, scoring in the 83rd minute and again in the 87th minute to make it 4-1. Alavés added a late consolation goal, but Athletic Club held on for a 4-2 win.

Key incidents and disciplinary action

The match saw several notable moments. Alavés midfielder Carles Aleñá was shown a yellow card for a bad foul. Jesús Areso of Athletic Club won a free kick in the defensive half. Alavés had a corner conceded by Aymeric Laporte, and Abde Rebbach was caught offside. Substitutions also played a role: Ander Guevara and Jon Guridi were replaced in the 62nd minute, Carles Aleñá in the 73rd, and Íñigo Ruíz de Galarreta, Oihan Sancet, and Robert Navarro were substituted in the 46th minute.

Injury concerns for Alavés

Alavés entered the match with several injury problems. Carlos Protesoni was listed as doubtful with a leg injury, while Lucas Boyé was sidelined with a hamstring injury and expected to return in mid-May 2026. Maroan Sannadi had physical discomfort and was doubtful, and Beñat Prados was doubtful with a cruciate ligament injury. These absences may have affected Alavés' depth, particularly in the second half when Athletic Club's fresh legs proved decisive.

Recent form and context

The result comes amid a challenging run for Alavés. In their previous three La Liga matches, they lost 2-1 to Real Madrid, drew 3-3 with Real Sociedad, and lost 4-3 to Celta Vigo. Athletic Club, meanwhile, had lost 3-2 to Atlético Madrid in their most recent outing before this match. The victory moves Athletic Club up the table, while Alavés remain in a precarious position, needing to address their defensive vulnerabilities and injury list.

What lies ahead for both sides

Athletic Club will look to build on this momentum as the season enters its final stretch. With players like Nico Williams in form, they have a potent attacking threat. Alavés, however, face an uphill battle to recover from a string of poor results and injuries. The club will hope for the return of key players like Lucas Boyé in mid-May, but their immediate focus must be on tightening a defence that has conceded 10 goals in their last four matches.

The bottom line

• Nico Williams scored twice in the final seven minutes to secure a 4-2 comeback win for Athletic Club.
• Robert Navarro and Oihan Sancet also scored for Athletic Club in the second half.
• Alavés have now lost three of their last four La Liga matches, with defensive issues evident.
• Alavés are dealing with multiple injuries, including Lucas Boyé (hamstring) and Beñat Prados (cruciate ligament).
• The attendance of 19,125 at Mendizorroza witnessed a high-scoring, dramatic encounter.