Villarreal move within one point of Real Madrid

While others are busy contesting the Spanish Super Cup, Villarreal continue to press on relentlessly in La Liga. Marcelino’s side maintained their impressive momentum with a convincing home victory over Alavés, keeping their pursuit of the title pace firmly on track.
The win allowed Villarreal to pull clear of Atlético Madrid and close to within one point of Real Madrid in terms of points dropped, further strengthening their credentials as genuine contenders at the top of the table.
The decisive work was done after the break. Alberto Moleiro, Gerard Moreno and Georges Mikautadze all found the net in the second half, sealing a 3–1 victory and securing back-to-back league wins for the Yellow Submarine.
2025-26, Spain - La Liga
Villarreal - Deportivo Alaves 3:1 (0:0)
Goals: Moleiro, 49 (1:0); Gerard Moreno, 55 (2:0); Mikautadze, 75 (3:0); Toni Martínez, 85 (3:1)
Villarreal: Júnior L.; Foyth; Veiga; Mourino; Pedraza A. (Oluwaseyi, 82); Dani Parejo (Partey T., 67); Comesaña; Buchanan T. (Pépé N., 67); Moleiro (Cardona S., 77); Mikautadze; Perez A. (Gerard Moreno, 46)
Substitution: Gerard Moreno (from 46); Partey T. (from 67); Pépé N. (from 67); Cardona S. (from 77); Oluwaseyi (from 82)
Bench: Conde; Tenas; Marín Ra.; Navarro; Macia C.
Deportivo Alaves: Sivera; Pacheco J.; Tenaglia; Otto (Enriquez You., 56); Parada; Blanco An.; Aleñá (Mañas A., 80); Guridi (Rebbach Abderrahman, 80); Ibáñez P. (Guevara, 59); Vicente; Toni Martínez
Substitution: Enriquez You. (from 56); Guevara (from 59); Rebbach Abderrahman (from 80); Mañas A. (from 80)
Bench: Raul Fernandez; Calebe
Yellow Cards: Aleñá 10; Otto 45
