Buy Alaves vs Rayo Vallecano tickets for the 2026/27 Season, with the match listed for Sunday 18 April 2027 and kick-off currently shown at 17:00 local time at Mendizorrotza in Vitoria-Gasteiz. La Liga confirms exact kick-off slots a few weeks before each round, so keep the whole weekend free in case the game moves.
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This is a fixture with more history than its profile suggests. Alavés and Rayo once met in a European quarter-final, and the league record in Vitoria is close: Rayo have won five of the nine top-flight meetings at Mendizorrotza, but the hosts won 2-0 when the clubs met in the Copa del Rey there in January 2026.
Below you will find typical resale prices, where to sit in one of the oldest grounds in La Liga, how club sales work, the full league record in Vitoria and the practical side of a spring weekend in the Basque Country.
Start with the ground. Mendizorrotza opened in 1924 and holds 19,840, which makes it one of the smaller stadiums in the Spanish top flight. Season ticket holders fill a large share of it, so the number of seats that reach general sale for any league game is limited before a single resale listing appears.
The hosts carry their own big-occasion memories. Alavés reached the UEFA Cup final in 2001 and their first Copa del Rey final in 2017, and Mendizorrotza still treats those runs as part of its identity. For a club of this size, a full house on a spring Sunday is a point of pride.
Then add the visitors. Rayo Vallecano reached their first European final in May 2026, losing the Conference League final to Crystal Palace, and that run has brought new attention to the club from south-east Madrid. Their travelling support is loyal and loud, and Vitoria is one of the more manageable away trips from the capital.
The away end tends to be well used for this one. Rayo's supporters, led by the Bukaneros, travel north in good numbers for a Sunday fixture, and the noise from the visiting section adds to the atmosphere in a ground where the stands sit close to the pitch.
The recent record gives both sets of supporters a reason to care. Rayo won 2-0 at Mendizorrotza in March 2025 and 2-1 in May 2026, while Alavés knocked them out of the Copa del Rey on the same pitch in between. Few fixtures in the league have swung back and forth so quickly.
The calendar adds weight. An April date falls deep in the run-in, and Alavés have spent recent seasons fighting to stay clear of the relegation places. For a club of their size every home point counts, and spring fixtures tend to draw the home crowd out in numbers.
Kick-off time shapes the crowd more than most. A Sunday slot suits visitors who can travel home on Monday, while buyers from Bilbao, San Sebastián or Pamplona can make the return trip the same night, so a weekend date usually sits at the busier end of the attendance range.
Yes, but the club route is narrow. Alavés sell match tickets to members and season ticket holders first, and in a ground this size the central areas of the Tribuna Principal are often gone before a general sale opens. Non-members who wait can find only corner or end seats left.
Alavés members, the club's socios, form the core of the crowd and get the first chance at any seats that season ticket holders release. That first window usually absorbs the central seats in both long stands before anyone else gets a look.
Rayo supporters have a separate route through their own club, which receives an allocation for the away section at Mendizorrotza. Visiting fans who miss that allocation should buy only listings that confirm a seat inside the away area and wear neutral clothing anywhere else.
Overseas buyers face an extra hurdle. Club sales can require registration in Spanish, a local payment method or a member number, which makes a short trip hard to organise through club routes alone.
A verified resale marketplace is the practical alternative. Listings come from verified sellers, including season ticket holders who cannot attend, and every listing shows its stand and delivery method before you pay.
Groups benefit most from that route. Club releases for a ground this size are often scattered singles, while resale listings can offer pairs and fours together in the same section, which matters for families and friends travelling as one party.
Supply often improves in the final fortnight, once members know their plans. With a capacity under 20,000, though, groups should not assume plenty of adjacent seats will be left in the last week.
Five factors shape prices. Seat location comes first, with the centre of the Tribuna Principal at the top of the range, followed by demand, how close to the match you buy, the competition context of a 2026/27 La Liga run-in and whether you want hospitality. Rayo sit in the middle of Alavés' home schedule, well below Real Madrid or Barcelona.
| Ticket Type | Resale Price Range | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fondo / behind the goal | £40 – £65 | Budget-minded buyers who want atmosphere | Close to the goal among home supporters |
| Corner seating | £45 – £75 | Groups looking to sit together | Angled view, often easier to find in blocks |
| Tribuna Preferencia | £55 – £90 | Fans who want a side-on view | Long side opposite the main stand |
| Tribuna Principal, central | £80 – £130+ | Buyers after a central view of the pitch | Main stand near the halfway line; supply is thin |
| Hospitality / VIP | £180 – £400+ | Corporate guests and special occasions | Premium main stand seat with catering; packages vary |
Prices reflect typical resale ranges and may change as demand and availability shift closer to the match.
For context, the club's own prices for league matches have typically run from around €30 behind the goals to around €75 in the main stand. Resale sits above those figures because it gives you access once club sales have closed, in a ground where club sales close early.
The headline home dates sit much higher on the same curve. Alavés vs Real Madrid commands the steepest resale prices of the season in Vitoria, while a Rayo fixture offers the same compact ground and a competitive match for considerably less.
Single seats are usually the lower-priced listings at Mendizorrotza. Pairs and groups carry a premium, mainly in the centre of the two long stands, so solo travellers often find the widest choice and the strongest value.
Compare that with the reverse fixture. Vallecas holds fewer than 15,000, so the Madrid meeting is even harder to get into, and buyers weighing both games will usually find a wider choice of seats in Vitoria at similar prices.
If the slot moves, prices usually follow. A switch to a Saturday evening tends to lift demand from regional buyers, while a Monday night would thin the crowd and soften resale prices.
The Tribuna Principal runs along one side and holds the premium seats and the club's VIP facilities. The Tribuna Preferencia faces it, while the Fondo Norte and Fondo Sur close off each end, linked by corner seating. The Mendizorrotza seating plan shows how the stands and corners fit together.
| Area | What It Suits | Pricing Bracket | Guidance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tribuna Principal, central | Buyers who want a central view | Upper | Near the dugouts and the tunnel; limited supply |
| Tribuna Principal, lateral | Couples and families | Middle to upper | Main stand comfort with an angled view |
| Tribuna Preferencia | Neutrals who want a side-on view | Middle | Faces the main stand; strong for following the whole pitch |
| Fondos (home sections) | Fans who want noise and energy | Lower | Behind the goals among local supporters; wear neutral or Alavés colours |
| Corner seating | Budget buyers and groups | Lower to middle | Often the easiest place to keep a group together |
| Away section | Rayo Vallecano supporters | Set by allocation | Segregated area with its own entrance; Rayo white and red belongs here only |
Neutral buyers and undecided fans should aim for the Tribuna Preferencia or the lateral Tribuna Principal. Both avoid the colours issue near the away section and give a fair view of both teams.
In a ground this compact, row choice matters more than stand choice for many buyers. Front rows put you almost at pitch level, while middle and upper rows give a wider view without feeling remote. For every other date at the ground this season, the Mendizorrotza Stadium tickets listings show upcoming matches in one place.
Colours matter here. Anyone outside the away section is safest in neutral clothing or Alavés blue and white, as stewards keep the two sets of supporters apart and can move visitors showing away colours in home areas. Supporters with access needs should raise them with the seller through the order before buying, as dedicated places are limited.
Families and first-time visitors usually settle on the Tribuna Preferencia, where the atmosphere is lively without the constant standing and singing behind the goals. Vitoria-Gasteiz sits on a high plateau, so even in April an evening can turn cool; dress in layers whichever stand you pick.
The club's premium facilities sit in the Tribuna Principal, so every hospitality tier keeps you close to the centre of the pitch. Inclusions vary by package, so read what food, drink and parking are covered before you commit.
| Hospitality Option | Typical Buyer | Main Appeal |
|---|---|---|
| Premium Tribuna seat | Couples and small groups | Padded main stand seating close to the halfway line |
| VIP seat with lounge access | Guests who want a reserved seat | A numbered seat in the VIP area with hospitality service |
| VIP lounge package | Corporate parties | Pre-match food and drink in the main stand facilities |
| Private box | Client entertaining and celebrations | A private space for a group with its own view of the pitch |
Premium places are limited in a ground of this size, so allow more lead time than you would for a standard ticket. Hospitality is also the most reliable way for a group to sit together, because packages are sold in set group sizes.
Hospitality suits visitors who want the day handled for them. Rather than hunting for food in a busy area before kick-off, you head straight to your lounge or seat with everything arranged, which for a birthday trip or client entertaining is often the main attraction.
A late-afternoon kick-off in April suits a hospitality day well. You can arrive in daylight, eat in the main stand before the match and be back in the old town for dinner, without the cold of a winter evening on the plateau.
Delivery depends on how the seller holds the tickets, and the listing states the method before you pay. La Liga tickets are often released to sellers close to matchday, so do not worry if yours arrive in the final week.
| Delivery Type | What to Confirm |
|---|---|
| E-ticket (PDF) | That the file displays clearly and matches the seat described in the listing |
| Mobile ticket | That the transfer opens on your phone and shows in the correct app before matchday |
| Paper ticket by courier | That your delivery address is correct and someone can sign for the envelope |
| Collection in Vitoria-Gasteiz | The meeting point, collection window and contact details in your order confirmation |
Read the listing notes before you pay, since they show the delivery method and any restriction on the seat. Bring valid photo ID in case stewards ask for it and charge your phone fully before you leave if you are using a mobile ticket.
Mendizorrotza sits about 1.7 kilometres from the city centre on Paseo de Cervantes. City buses run from the centre to the ground and there is parking at the sports complex next door, though it fills up on matchdays. Aim to reach your gate at least 45 minutes before kick-off, as stewards search bags at the entrances.
Travel light. Large bags and rucksacks are best left at your hotel, and bottles, cans, alcohol and flares are not allowed inside. The walk from the old town takes you through some of the city's greenest streets, and bars near the ground fill with fans well before kick-off.
After the final whistle, city buses back to the centre fill quickly. The walk to the old town takes around 20 minutes and is often quicker than waiting, and the pintxos bars of the Casco Viejo are busy with both sets of supporters on a Sunday evening.
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Step1
Find the fixture
Search for Alavés against Rayo Vallecano and open the listing for Sunday 18 April 2027 at Mendizorrotza.
Step2
Set up your account
Create an account with your name, email and phone number so updates about your order reach you quickly.
Step3
Compare stands
Use the stadium map on the listing to compare the Tribuna Principal, the Tribuna Preferencia and the fondos, then match each area to your budget.
Step4
Choose your quantity
Select how many seats you need. If sitting together matters, filter for listings that keep your group side by side.
Step5
Read the listing notes
Look for delivery format, stand details and any restrictions before you commit to a seat.
Step6
Pay securely
Complete payment through the encrypted payment page. The total you see includes all fees, so there are no surprises later.
Step7
Get your confirmation
An order confirmation lands in your inbox straight away, with the expected delivery method and timing for your seats.
Step8
Follow delivery
Use track order to follow progress on your tickets at any time before matchday.
Bilbao Airport is around an hour away by road and offers the widest choice of international flights, with regular coaches into Vitoria-Gasteiz. E-tickets and mobile transfers suit anyone flying in the day before the match, while courier delivery works for buyers with a fixed home address and time to spare.
Because La Liga confirms kick-off times only a few weeks ahead, book flexible travel that covers the whole weekend of 16 to 18 April. Request seats together at the point of purchase if you travel as a group, and give the seller the exact name and email you will use on the day.
Rayo fans usually make the trip from Madrid by train or road in around four hours, as Vitoria-Gasteiz sits on the main line between the capital and the French border. Supporters planning a second Basque away day can also look at Athletic Bilbao vs Rayo Vallecano, an hour up the road at San Mamés.
Vitoria-Gasteiz is a compact, walkable city with a medieval old town and plenty of pintxos bars, so it suits a weekend trip. A 17:00 kick-off leaves the morning free for the old quarter and the evening for dinner, and San Sebastián is an easy day trip on the Monday.
The city was named European Green Capital in 2012, and its ring of parks makes the walk to Mendizorrotza a pleasant one on a spring afternoon. Hotels in the centre are generally better value than in Bilbao or San Sebastián, which helps groups planning a full weekend.
The clubs' first top-flight meeting at Mendizorrotza came in October 1999, a 1-0 Rayo win, but the defining chapter came in March 2001. Alavés and Rayo met in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals, and three days after Alavés won the first leg 3-0 in Vitoria, the sides met again in the league at the same ground, with Alavés winning 4-2. Alavés went on to reach the UEFA Cup final that season, a run that remains the high point of the club's history.
Since then the balance has tipped towards the visitors. Rayo won in Vitoria in 2002 and 2019, and after two narrow Alavés wins in 2022 and 2024, they took the last two league meetings at Mendizorrotza, 2-0 in March 2025 and 2-1 in May 2026. In their own stadium, the Estadio de Vallecas, Rayo host the other half of this fixture each season.
The modern meetings have mirrored both clubs' ups and downs. Rayo's 1-0 win in January 2019 came during a single season back in the top flight, while Alavés' 1-0 in April 2022 was one of the few highs of a campaign that ended in relegation. Both clubs have since re-established themselves in La Liga, which has made the fixture a regular date again.
That is what gives the fixture its edge. Only one of the nine league meetings in Vitoria has been drawn, and the Copa del Rey tie in January 2026 showed how quickly the home side can turn the record around. Both sets of supporters arrive expecting a winner.
For Rayo, the target is a third straight league win in Vitoria, something they have never managed. For Alavés, it is the chance to repeat the cup result of January 2026 in the competition that matters most to a club fighting for every point.
The figures below cover every top-flight league meeting at Mendizorrotza with Alavés as hosts. Segunda División, Copa del Rey and UEFA Cup meetings are not included.
| Metric | Total |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 9 |
| Alavés wins | 3 |
| Rayo Vallecano wins | 5 |
| Draws | 1 |
| Alavés goals | 8 |
| Rayo Vallecano goals | 10 |
| Biggest Alavés win | 4-2 (11 March 2001) |
| Biggest Rayo Vallecano win | 2-0 (29 March 2025) |
| First top-flight meeting in scope | 17 October 1999 |
| Most recent meeting in scope | 23 May 2026 |
Source: footballdatabase.eu season records, cross-referenced with football-data.co.uk La Liga results archives.
Each result below is listed newest first, with Alavés' score shown first.
| Date | Score |
|---|---|
| 23 May 2026 | Alavés 1-2 Rayo Vallecano |
| 29 Mar 2025 | Alavés 0-2 Rayo Vallecano |
| 10 Mar 2024 | Alavés 1-0 Rayo Vallecano |
| 16 Apr 2022 | Alavés 1-0 Rayo Vallecano |
| 28 Jan 2019 | Alavés 0-1 Rayo Vallecano |
| 02 Feb 2003 | Alavés 1-1 Rayo Vallecano |
| 05 May 2002 | Alavés 0-1 Rayo Vallecano |
| 11 Mar 2001 | Alavés 4-2 Rayo Vallecano |
| 17 Oct 1999 | Alavés 0-1 Rayo Vallecano |
Source: footballdatabase.eu and football-data.co.uk, with every score confirmed by at least two independent records.
No. Resale listings need only a 1BoxOffice account, so you can choose a stand and seat count without a member number.
Soon after the kick-off slot is confirmed, before central seats in a small ground disappear. Late singles do appear, but groups have less choice.
In a segregated away section with its own entrance, sold mainly through Rayo. Wear club colours only inside that area.
Take a coach to Vitoria-Gasteiz, around an hour, then a city bus or a 20-minute walk from the centre to the ground.
Yes, if you set your quantity before choosing a stand, since blocks of four appear most often in the corners. A hospitality package is the surest way to keep a larger party together.
Sources: LaLiga fixture information; Deportivo Alavés official ticketing and stadium information; Rayo Vallecano official away ticketing information; footballdatabase.eu; football-data.co.uk; Vitoria-Gasteiz city transport information.