Málaga was agonizingly close to securing its first victory since returning to LaLiga, only to be denied in the final minute of regulation time when Alavés secured a 1-1 draw at the Mendizorroza stadium.
Adrián Niño had put the visitors ahead just before halftime, scoring his fourth goal in his second consecutive start by finishing a slick, filtered pass from the roteño. Initially flagged for offside, the goal stood after a VAR review confirmed that defender N. Tenaglia had kept the Málaga striker onside. The young forward continued to trouble the home defense throughout the second half, partnering with substitutes like Chupe and threatening on the counterattack as Alavés pushed desperately for an equalizer.
The match had begun with early territorial dominance from the hosts, though they struggled to break down a resolute Málaga backline. Tenaglia registered the game’s first notable chance with a low shot that goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero comfortably handled. Málaga gradually grew into the encounter, particularly after Carlos Dotor squandered an early opportunity following a loose pass from Antonio Blanco.
Trailing at the interval, Alavés manager Quique Sánchez Flores introduced Hugo Novoa and Denis Suárez at the start of the second half, shifting to a back-four formation to bolster the midfield. Despite the tactical adjustments, the hosts struggled to create clear-cut openings while leaving space at the back. Málaga carved out chances to extend their lead, with J. Salinas coming close and Niño narrowly missing a potential second goal.
Alavés continued to press despite their offensive frustrations, with Lucas Boyé striking the goalpost during a period of sustained pressure. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 89th minute when Aitor Mañas reacted quickest to bundle a loose ball into the net from close range, following a stunning initial save by Herrero to deny a powerful header from Toni Martínez. The frantic closing moments saw Alavés launch wave after wave of attacks in search of a winner, but the Málaga defense held firm to split the points.
The draw leaves both sides searching for consistency and relief from ongoing sporting difficulties. Málaga remains winless and heavily pressured as a young squad adapting to the demands of the top flight, while Alavés extends its winless streak to six matches under Sánchez Flores. A crowd of 16,099 spectators witnessed the tense fixture, which was officiated by referee Carlos Muñiz Muñoz of the Aragonese committee, who issued yellow cards to Lucas Boyé in the 39th minute, Tenaglia in the 67th minute, and Dotor in the 84th minute.
