The pain of bipolar Alcoyano
Alcoyano faced a challenging moment against Atlético B that signaled trouble ahead. In the 54th minute, Lara seized a quick counterattack, his foot connecting with the ball as an opportunity formed. An opponent acted swiftly to extinguish the danger. Yet the referee whistled a direct red card after noticing contact during the fall, sending the local player off and tilting the balance of the match.
From that moment, Alcoyano appeared unsettled. They strained at a decisive moment from a set piece, fell behind due to an error of their own making, and could not recover their composure. There is a real risk they could slip back into the relegation zone this Sunday if results elsewhere do not break their way.
The earlier phase of the game started with modest incidents. The most notable moment involved Arumí, who, remarkably, recovered a lost contact lens on the grass after a minor collision. That small detail underscored the precarious mood around the bench and the scarcity of meaningful chances for the home team.
On the other side, Diego Bri moved with intent, though his passing was sometimes imprecise. Closer to home, the former Elche player pressed for options and created a sense of urgency in the visitors’ approach.
As the half progressed, Lara buffered Iturbe’s tentative effort without trouble for the hosts, while Niño’s shot skimmed the side of the net after a smart cut inside the area. The first 45 minutes belonged to the guests in terms of offensive pressure. In the final sequence, Pradera watched as the visitor’s goalkeeper reached the ball first after a set piece. Frustration built among players and fans alike, and the referee sent the two teams to the dressing room to rethink their approach.
Early in the second period, the mood shifted again. Alcoyano sought momentum, but opportunities remained scarce. A tense exchange around the arc tested the nerves of everyone present as the teams exchanged chances and frustrations.
Between the lines, the tactical narrative continued to tilt toward the visitors. The game became a battle of discipline, with players trying to prevent a costly mistake that could decide the result. The scoreboard did not reflect a lack of effort; rather, it highlighted how fine the margins are at this level of competition.
The action intensified in the later stages as both sides searched for a breakthrough. The visitors found a late surge of purpose as the clock wound down, while Alcoyano tried to steady themselves and keep the game within reach. The sense of inevitability grew as the match wore on, with the possibility of a crucial error looming for the home side.
Alcoyano pushed forward with renewed urgency but could not unlock the defense. Primi’s miscue in the final stretch cost the home side possession near midfield and risked a counterattack from Atlético. Mestanza and Valens managed the late moments with composure for Atlético, while Diego Bri sealed the affair with a late goal that left Alcoyano facing a difficult path ahead.
MATCH SUMMARY
Alcoyano: Valence; Campabadal, Farru, Primi, Nieto, Albisua, Imanol, Ganet, Agüero, Pradera, Lara. Substitutes: Sergi López, Juanan, Sergi García, etc.
Atlético B: Iturbe; Marco, Mariano, Joel Arumí, Pablo Pérez, Ndiaye, Guerrero, Gismera, Diego Bri, El Jebari, Niño. Substitutes: Boñar, Cala, Mestanza, Nabil, etc.
GOALS: 0-1 Marco (69′), 0-2 Mestanza (83′), 0-3 Diego Bri (90’+4′).
REFEREE: Pablo Morales Moreno. Gismera confronted Ndiaye and Pradera; Lara received a direct red card in the 54th minute.
STADIUM: El Collao, Alcoy.