Alaves Stuns Villarreal 1-0 to Stay Perfect

The game between Alavés and Villarreal is the best example of how much advantage a team can gain from its home ground and home crowd. Villarreal showed aggression on the field but failed to score a single goal. On the other hand, Alavés had the home-ground advantage over Villarreal, which helped the home team score a single goal. Surprisingly, Villarreal possessed the ball most of the time but still had no success.

Alaves held on for a 1-0 win over Villarreal on Friday, a result that feels almost shocking given how much the visiting side controlled the game. Villarreal had 75 percent possession and fired in 18 shots, yet somehow left empty-handed. The hosts, meanwhile, managed just nine attempts and owned the ball for a quarter of the match. It's the kind of score line that makes you wonder what might have been different with slightly better finishing or a touch more precision from the visitors.

For Alavés, this was another important win in what has been a strong start to the season. They now sit at the top of the table with seven points after a busy opening period. They are not winning through possession or dominance. Instead, they stay compact, attack on the counter, and make the most of their chances. This approach has worked well so far, and they are unlikely to change it while the results continue.

Villarreal had a frustrating afternoon. After earning only two points from their first few matches, they needed this game to improve their season. Instead, they left with nothing. The visitors created enough chances to win comfortably, which made the result even more disappointing. They are still looking for consistency and remain near the bottom of the table. Despite controlling much of the game, they could not score.