Aitor Mañas rescues Alavés with 89th-minute equaliser to deny winless Málaga
A late reprieve at Mendizorroza
Málaga were a minute from a first victory of the season in Vitoria on Friday night. Then an Alavés substitute intervened. Aitor Mañas, sent on late by Quique Sánchez Flores, scored his first goal for the Alavés first team in the 89th minute to rescue a 1-1 draw at Mendizorroza and leave the bottom side still searching for a win.
The visitors had gone in front just before the break, Ramón Enríquez supplying the assist for Niño, who has now scored in three league matches in a row. The goal takes his Primera División total to four for the campaign. Málaga coach Juanfran Funes played a single striker in Vitoria and picked Niño because of the forward's excellent form.
Alavés dominate the ball but lack a cutting edge
Alavés controlled the game with 63% possession and won seven corners to Málaga's two, yet clear chances were scarce. According to Noticias de Álava, Sánchez Flores sent on Toni Martínez for Mariano Díaz in the 66th minute because his side were struggling to create clear openings.
The decisive change came later. Mañas played 15 minutes and had two shots, his equaliser arriving when he put away a loose ball inside the area. He finished with the highest rating on the pitch, at 8.15.
The point ended a run of two straight defeats for Alavés, against Atlético Madrid and Celta Vigo, and left the Basque side without a victory in six matches.
Mixed numbers for Málaga as Funes takes encouragement
The 2026-27 season is Málaga's first in the top flight after eight years away, and the winless start continues to weigh on their campaign. Funes nevertheless took encouragement from the display, describing the first half as his side's best of the season and the match as their best away performance of the campaign, adding that a first win felt close.
The figures in Vitoria were more mixed. Málaga completed 385 accurate passes to Alavés' 367, but managed only three shots on target. At the other end, Alfonso Herrero made three saves, and six Alavés efforts were blocked.
Referee Carlos Muñiz Muñoz showed four yellow cards. Lucas Boyé and Nahuel Tenaglia were booked for Alavés, while Carlos Dotor and Juan Francisco Funes Arjona were booked for Málaga.
What comes next
Málaga's October fixtures also include a Copa del Rey tie against Sporting Alcázar. Their next league game is a trip to Real Betis — the season's first Andalusian derby, and a reunion with their former player Isco.
Alavés head away to Barcelona in the league. Before that, they play Anaitasuna FT away in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday 28 October. The return league meeting between Málaga and Alavés is listed for Sunday 31 January 2027.