Alavés 1-1 Málaga: Aitor Mañas late leveller cancels out Adrián Niño

Substitute Aitor Mañas scored in the 89th minute to earn Alavés a 1-1 draw with Málaga at Mendizorroza on Friday night. Adrián Niño had put the visitors ahead just before half-time, his goal standing after a VAR check, but Málaga's wait for a first La Liga win of the season goes on.

Match facts

• Result: Deportivo Alavés 1-1 Málaga (half-time 0-1)
• Competition: La Liga, Matchday 10
• Venue: Mendizorroza, Vitoria-Gasteiz
• Scorers: Alavés - Mañas 89'; Málaga - Niño 44'
• Red cards: None
• Next: Barcelona v Alavés and Real Betis v Málaga (La Liga), Saturday 31 October

How the match unfolded

Alavés started on the front foot. Nahuel Tenaglia headed off target from a Carles Aleñá cross in the second minute, and his shot from distance in the ninth minute forced a corner. Málaga gradually took more of the ball, and Rafita went close from outside the box in the 16th minute.

Lucas Boyé was booked for Alavés in the 39th minute, and a minute later Carlos Dotor fired wide after Niño set him up following a turnover. In the 44th minute Ramón Enríquez threaded a pass through to Niño, who finished with his left foot into the top-left corner. VAR reviewed the goal and it stood, so Málaga led at the break.

Alavés coach Quique Sánchez Flores sent on Hugo Novoa for Aleñá at half-time, then brought on Youssef Enriquez and Denis Suárez in the 55th minute. Clear chances were scarce until Málaga substitute José Salinas forced a save from Antonio Sivera in the 69th minute. Dotor then shot just wide, and in the 73rd minute Alfonso Herrero saved low from Toni Martínez at close range.

Mañas came on for Antonio Blanco in the 75th minute. Boyé hit the left post in the 80th minute, and Sivera saved from Málaga substitute Chupe two minutes later. In the 89th minute Herrero kept out a Martínez header, and moments later Mañas turned the ball in from close range for the equaliser.

Alavés pushed for a winner in five minutes of stoppage time. Ville Koski headed wide from a corner, and Herrero saved a header from Mañas deep into added time.

What it means

The draw ends a run of two straight league defeats for Alavés, after a 2-1 home loss to Atlético Madrid and a 2-1 defeat at Celta Vigo. They are without a league win in six games but move to 12 points from 10 matches. They had 18 shots to Málaga's seven, according to ESPN.

Málaga stay bottom of La Liga with five points from 10 games, after five draws and five defeats. Juan Francisco Funes' side followed last week's 5-2 home defeat to Real Sociedad with a point, but could not hold on for their first win.

Next Saturday, Alavés travel to unbeaten leaders Barcelona, while Málaga visit Real Betis, who lost 5-2 at home to Barcelona last weekend.

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