Buy Alaves vs RCD Espanyol tickets for the 2026/27 Season, with the La Liga fixture set for Sunday 6 December 2026 and kick-off currently listed at 18:00. The venue is Mendizorrotza in Vitoria-Gasteiz, a compact ground that opened in 1924 and remains one of the oldest in Spanish professional football. A Sunday evening in early December gives this match the feel of a proper winter night in the Basque Country.
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Recent meetings have been tight and tense. Four of the last seven league games between the sides in Vitoria finished with a one-goal Alavés win and the visitors have twice left with a 1-0 victory. Anyone planning to follow Alavés this winter will find a home date where a single goal usually decides the afternoon.
Mendizorrotza holds 19,840, which makes it one of the smaller grounds in the top flight. That scale is part of its appeal, with seats close to the pitch and a crowd that feels on top of the players. It also means well-placed seats go quickly. La Liga confirms kick-off times in batches a few weeks before each round, so the listed time can still move.
This is not a derby, but it has become a meeting between two clubs with plenty in common. Both have spent recent seasons moving between fighting for safety and pushing towards the top half. That makes head-to-head points valuable and the home crowd knows it.
The visiting side brings its own following. Supporters of Espanyol face a journey of around 450 kilometres from Barcelona, yet a loyal group travels across the north of Spain for league games. Their section sits behind a separate entrance and a full away block adds to the noise inside a ground this size.
The last meeting in Vitoria sharpened the fixture further. In November 2025, Espanyol arrived chasing a third straight win and left beaten 2-1, with Alavés strong in front of their own fans. Espanyol supporters will remember that result when the clubs meet again.
December timing adds another layer. Points gathered before the Christmas break shape the table for the second half of the season and a Sunday evening kick-off suits fans travelling in from elsewhere in the Basque Country and northern Spain. That widens demand beyond regular local supporters.
For buyers, the practical effect is simple. A capacity under 20,000 leaves little room for late decisions and groups in particular should not assume plenty of seats will be left in the final week.
Alavés also carry a strong regional identity. The club represents the province of Álava and supporters travel in from towns across the Llanada Alavesa for home games. That wider catchment keeps demand steady even for fixtures that lack a traditional rivalry.
Yes. Alavés sells match tickets through its own ticketing routes once season ticket holders and socios have been served. Club members get priority and discounted prices and single-match sales for the general public usually open a few weeks before kick-off.
Season ticket holders fill a large share of Mendizorrotza. In a ground of this size, that leaves a limited number of seats for general sale and the central areas of the main stand are often the first to go. Non-members who wait for general sale can find only corner or end seats left.
A verified resale marketplace gives you a route that does not depend on membership or sale windows. You can pick the area you want, see the price up front and buy without joining the club first. For overseas fans and occasional visitors, that is often the simpler option.
Groups benefit most. Club sales can limit how many tickets each buyer takes, which makes it hard to seat four or six people together. Marketplace listings show how many seats sit side by side, so you can plan around the group.
Espanyol supporters have a separate route through their own club, which receives an allocation for the away section. Visiting fans who miss that allocation should buy only listings that confirm seats inside the away area.
Timing still matters on the resale route. Listings tend to be most plentiful in the weeks after the kick-off time is confirmed, when season ticket holders who cannot attend release their seats. Waiting until the final days can leave you choosing from a much smaller pool.
Five things shape the price for this match. Seat location comes first, with the centre of the Tribuna Principal at the top of the range. Demand follows, shaped by where both sides sit in the table.
Timing matters as well: prices move as the 2026/27 season unfolds and the kick-off time is confirmed. Competition context counts, because a La Liga fixture with points at stake near the top half or the relegation places draws more interest than a quiet midtable date. Finally, the hospitality tier you choose sets its own bracket.
| Ticket Type | Resale Price Range | Best For | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fondo / behind the goal | £40 – £70 | Budget-minded buyers who want atmosphere | Close to the goal with a lively home crowd |
| Corner seating | £45 – £80 | Groups looking to sit together | Angled view, often easier to find in blocks |
| Tribuna Preferencia | £55 – £100 | Fans who want a side-on view | Long side opposite the main stand, popular with season ticket holders |
| Tribuna Principal, central | £80 – £150+ | Buyers after the clearest view of the pitch | Main stand near the halfway line; supply is thin |
| Hospitality / VIP | £200 – £450+ | Corporate guests and special occasions | Premium seat in the main stand 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 ranged 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.
The ground is a single-tier bowl, with seating rising continuously from pitch level on all four sides. That layout keeps every seat relatively close to the action. The Mendizorrotza seating plan shows how the stands and corners fit together.
For the wider matchday picture, from the history of the ground to getting there on the day, see our guide to Mendizorrotza Stadium. It pairs well with the seat advice below.
The Tribuna Principal runs along one side and holds the premium seats and the club's VIP facilities. The Tribuna Preferencia faces it on the opposite side and is popular with season ticket holders. The Fondo Norte and Fondo Sur close off each end, linked by corner seating.
| 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; good 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 | Espanyol supporters | Lower | Segregated area with its own entry through Gate 3; Espanyol colours only here |
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. If you are travelling with Espanyol supporters, buy inside the away area rather than a neighbouring home block.
Because the bowl is a single tier, height works differently here than at larger grounds. Seats in the middle and upper rows give a wider view of the pitch without feeling remote, while front rows put you almost at pitch level. If you like to watch the shape of a game, sit a little higher.
Weather is worth a thought in December. Vitoria-Gasteiz can be cold and wet on winter evenings, so dress in layers whichever stand you pick. A warm coat and a hat make a big difference over ninety minutes outdoors.
Accessible places have their own entrance at Gate 1. If you or a member of your group needs one, confirm with the listing notes before paying that the seat suits your needs, including space for a companion.
| Hospitality Option | Typical Buyer | Main Appeal |
|---|---|---|
| Premium Tribuna seat | Couples and small groups | Padded main stand seating close to the halfway line |
| Palco Numérico VIP | Guests who want a reserved VIP seat | A numbered seat in the VIP area of the main stand with hospitality service |
| VIP lounge package | Corporate parties | Pre-match food and drink in the club's main stand facilities |
| Private box | Client entertaining and celebrations | A private space for a group with its own view of the pitch |
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.
For a December evening, hospitality has a practical upside. You spend the build-up indoors and warm, then take your seat shortly before the teams come out. Vitoria-Gasteiz sits on a high plateau and winter nights can be cold, which makes that extra comfort worth considering.
Hospitality also suits visitors who want the day handled for them. Instead of finding food in a busy area before kick-off, you head straight to your lounge or seat with everything arranged. For a birthday trip or client entertaining, that simplicity is often the main attraction.
Premium places are limited in a ground of this size. If you want a VIP seat, allow more lead time than you would for a standard ticket.
| 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 on matchday in case stewards ask for it. If you are using a mobile ticket, charge your phone fully before you leave.
Tickets for La Liga matches are often released to sellers close to matchday, so do not worry if yours arrive in the final week. Your order stays covered throughout and the delivery timeline appears in your confirmation email.
Mendizorrotza sits about 1.7 kilometres from the city centre on Paseo de Cervantes and the walk from Vitoria-Gasteiz railway station is short. 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.
Give yourself time before the match to enjoy the area around the ground. Bars near the stadium and in the city centre fill with fans from early evening and the walk from the old town takes you through some of Vitoria's greenest streets. Plan to reach your gate at least 45 minutes before kick-off to avoid the late rush.
Stewards search bags at the entrances. Large bags and rucksacks are best left at your hotel and bottles, cans, alcohol, flares and objects heavier than 500 grams are not allowed inside. Arrive in good time to clear security before kick-off.
1BoxOffice has been a verified marketplace since 2006 and every order is covered by a 150% money-back guarantee. Here is how the process works.
Step1
Find the fixture
Search for Alavés or Espanyol and open the listing for the December match at Mendizorrotza.
Step2
Set up your account
Create an account so your order details, delivery updates and receipts sit in one place.
Step3
Compare the areas
Use the stand information on each listing to decide between the two long sides, the ends and the corners.
Step4
Choose your quantity
Select how many seats you need and filter for listings that keep your group together.
Step5
Read the listing notes
Confirm the delivery method, any colours restriction and whether the seats sit side by side.
Step6
Add your details
Enter the attendee names and delivery address exactly as they should appear on the order.
Step7
Pay securely
Complete payment through the encrypted payment page and keep the confirmation email safe.
Step8
Follow your order
Use track order to see when your tickets are dispatched and ready for matchday.
Value is not only about the lowest number on the screen. A central seat on the long side at a fair price often gives a better evening than a lower-priced corner with a sharp angle on the far goal. Set a budget first, then pick the area that gives you the most for it.
Keep an eye on the table in the weeks before the match as well. If either side is chasing the European places or pulling clear of trouble, interest rises and prices follow. A quieter run of form in November can work in your favour and leave more listings at the lower end.
If you are buying for a mixed group, think about who needs what from the day. Younger fans may enjoy the energy behind the goal, while older relatives may prefer the calmer long sides. A single booking across two areas can sometimes cost less than squeezing everyone into the most expensive block.
Overseas buyers have plenty of choice on delivery. E-tickets and mobile transfers suit anyone flying in the day before the match, while courier delivery works best if you have a fixed home address and time to spare. Bilbao Airport is around an hour away by road and offers the widest choice of international flights, with regular coaches into Vitoria-Gasteiz.
Seats together are easier to secure early, so groups should not wait for the last week. Keep your travel plans flexible where you can, as La Liga fixtures can move by a day once television slots are fixed. Refundable hotel rates and later flight booking reduce that risk.
Vitoria-Gasteiz is a compact, walkable city with a well-kept medieval quarter and plenty of pintxos bars, so it suits a weekend trip. If you are staying longer, the return fixture, RCD Espanyol vs Alavés, gives you a reason to plan a visit to Barcelona later in the season.
Rail is another option. Vitoria-Gasteiz sits on the main line between Madrid and the French border, with direct services to the capital and the station is a short walk from the stadium. That makes a combined trip with a few days in Madrid or San Sebastián easy to arrange.
Espanyol supporters travelling from Catalonia should allow for a long journey each way. A Sunday evening kick-off can finish late, so booking a hotel night in Vitoria avoids a tired drive or a missed connection home.
The two clubs have crossed paths in the top flight on and off for close to a century, from Alavés' early spell in Primera in the early 1930s to the club's golden era around the turn of the millennium. That was the period when Alavés reached the 2001 UEFA Cup final, losing 5-4 to Liverpool after extra time. Espanyol, meanwhile, have lifted the Copa del Rey four times and reached two UEFA Cup finals of their own.
The modern story at Mendizorrotza begins in 2016, when Alavés returned to La Liga. Espanyol won the first meeting 1-0 that November, but Alavés then went unbeaten in the next four home league games against them, winning three. A 2-1 win in May 2022 came in a season that ended with Alavés relegated, which shows how much this fixture can matter even in a difficult year.
After Alavés came back up, the pattern held its knife-edge quality. Espanyol won 1-0 in Vitoria in February 2025, a result that eased their own relegation worries, before Alavés won 2-1 in November 2025. Every one of the last seven league meetings at the ground has been decided by one goal or ended goalless.
Alavés have given their supporters other big days in the modern era too. The club reached the 2017 Copa del Rey final against Barcelona and celebrated its centenary in 2021 and those memories keep Mendizorrotza full of expectation. Espanyol, a club founded in 1900, bring a long top-flight history of their own to every visit.
What makes this fixture distinctive is how little separates the sides on the day. One-goal margins have been the rule at Mendizorrotza, so the result feels open from the first whistle. For a buyer, that means ninety minutes where every chance matters.
The ground adds its own character. Mendizorrotza opened on 27 April 1924 and its compact shape still puts supporters close to the players. Few top-flight venues in Spain feel as intimate on a big night. For visiting fans used to larger stadiums, that closeness is often the part of the trip they remember most.
The table below covers all La Liga meetings at Mendizorrotza with Alavés as hosts since the club's return to the top flight in 2016/17. Earlier top-flight meetings in Vitoria date back to the 1930s but fall outside this modern-era record.
Across those seven matches, Alavés hold the upper hand with four wins, while Espanyol have won twice. The goal totals show how close the games have been, with no side winning by more than a single goal.
| Metric | Total |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 7 |
| Alavés wins | 4 |
| Espanyol wins | 2 |
| Draws | 1 |
| Alavés goals | 7 |
| Espanyol goals | 5 |
| Biggest Alavés win | 1-0 and 2-1 |
| Biggest Espanyol win | 0-1 |
| First La Liga meeting in scope | 20 Nov 2016 |
| Most recent meeting in scope | 02 Nov 2025 |
Source: AiScore, Flashscore, COPE, TUDN and other independent match databases, cross-referenced. Alavés score shown first.
| Date | Score |
|---|---|
| 02 Nov 2025 | 2-1 |
| 22 Feb 2025 | 0-1 |
| 11 May 2022 | 2-1 |
| 25 Aug 2019 | 0-0 |
| 02 Sep 2018 | 2-1 |
| 04 Nov 2017 | 1-0 |
| 20 Nov 2016 | 0-1 |
Source: AiScore, Flashscore, COPE and TUDN match reports. Alavés score shown first.
Buying soon after the kick-off time is confirmed usually gives you the widest choice before late demand in a small ground lifts prices.
Visiting supporters are placed in a segregated section of the ground with its own entry through Gate 3.
Bottles, cans, alcohol, flares and heavy objects are banned and large rucksacks are likely to be refused at the gates.
Mendizorrotza is roughly 1.7 kilometres from the centre of Vitoria-Gasteiz, an easy walk or a short bus ride.
Yes, buyers from any country can order and e-tickets or mobile transfers are the simplest choice if you are flying in close to matchday.
Sources: LaLiga official stadium information, Deportivo Alavés official ticketing information, AiScore, Flashscore, COPE, TUDN and Stadium Seeker.