Guridi lifts Alavés and stops Mallorca

Deportivo Alavés beat Mallorca (1-0) this Friday at the start of matchday 12 of LaLiga EA Sports, a necessary victory for the Basques after five consecutive defeats and which stopped the dynamics in the upper zone of the Balearic team.

Luis García Plaza’s team redoubled their efforts to be strong in defense and take advantage of almost the only scoring option they had: a ball into the area that, in collaboration with the visiting defense, Jon Guridi sent into the net in the 76th minute in Mendizorroza.

The Vitoria fiefdom was the scene of an all-out war, a melee in each duel and few area actions. This was made clear in the first half, with a lot of intensity and not much football, the defenses nullifying the offensive game. Guridi himself generated the clearest of the locals, while Mallorca looked for Cyle Larin.

The Canadian striker forced the central defenders’ cards, but did not have it, Chiquinho was closer to the goal. Alavés was the one who took a step forward in the second half, but their arrivals did not end up enjoying an accurate finish, with Leo Román also attentive between the sticks. Muriqi entered Mallorca, and Antonio Sánchez and Sergi Darder, but Alavés controlled their dangerous rival well.

The Arrasate team, which aspired to sleep in the Champions League, then conceded 1-0, Guridi’s first goal of the season, and the three points remained in Mendizorroza, to move away from the bottom zone, without a final reaction of visitors.