CLUB SNAPSHOT: At a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Club | Deportivo Alavés |
| League | La Liga |
| Manager | Quique Sánchez Flores |
| Stadium | Mendizorroza |
| Nickname | Babazorros |
| Founded | 1921 |
| First Choice | Antonio Sivera |
| Deputy | Adrián Rodríguez |
| Departure | Jesús Owono (expected to leave) |
| Current League Position | 7th (12 points from 10 matches) |
The Defining Moment
Deportivo Alavés’ goalkeeping department entered 2026/27 with a clarity that few other areas of the squad could match. Antonio Sivera, the 29-year-old from Xàtiva, was the undisputed number one — “sin ningún tipo de debate,” as Diario AS put it. He had started every single league match for Alavés across the previous two seasons, 38 appearances in 2025/26 and 32 the year before, establishing himself as one of the most durable and reliable goalkeepers in the lower half of La Liga.
The defining moment of the summer came not with an arrival, but with a decision. Sivera’s contract expires in June 2027, and Alavés faced a familiar dilemma for a club of its means: renew or sell. Valencia had expressed interest. The speculation was inevitable. But Quique Sánchez Flores, beginning his first full season in charge after rescuing Alavés from a turbulent campaign, made his position clear. Sivera was staying. The goalkeeper who had been ever-present through relegation battles and mid-table consolidations would remain the foundation upon which the new project was built.
Behind him, the hierarchy was less certain. Jesús Owono, the Equatorial Guinea international, was not included in the squad for the opening fixture against Getafe and was expected to leave. Adrián Rodríguez, a 25-year-old who had spent pre-season wearing the number 31, was handed the number 13 shirt and promoted to the role of Sivera’s deputy. The academy option, Grégoire Swiderski, completed the department.
This is the story of Alavés’ 2026/27 goalkeepers: an undisputed starter silencing the transfer noise, a deputy promoted from the shadows, and a supporting cast of departures and prospects.
Tactical Context
Quique Sánchez Flores’ Alavés is a team built on defensive organisation and cautious attacking. The veteran coach, who took over midway through the previous campaign after Coudet’s departure to River Plate, ordered the ideas, eliminated the “excentricidades,” and connected with the dressing room, the board, and the supporters. His system — alternating between a 5-3-2 and a 4-4-2 — demands a goalkeeper who can provide stability behind a defence that is often asked to absorb pressure.
Sivera’s profile suits this structure precisely. He is not a sweeper-keeper in the modern elite mould, nor does he launch counter-attacks with ambitious distribution. What he does is occupy the right positions, make the saves he should make, and provide a calm presence behind a back line that has, at times, been exposed by the attacking ambitions of the wing-backs. His strongest attributes, according to scouting analysis, are “command of the box, shot-stopping and distribution” — qualities that align with Quique’s demand for defensive solidity.
The numbers from 2026/27 reflect his importance. Across the opening ten league matches, Sivera started every single one, playing all 900 minutes. He conceded 11 goals — 1.10 per game — and kept three clean sheets. His save percentage and goals-against figures placed him in the middle of La Liga’s goalkeeping cohort, neither exceptional nor inadequate. For a team that scored 14 goals in those same ten matches, the margin between a save and a goal was often the margin between a point and none.
The tactical demand on Alavés’ goalkeeper is specific. Quique’s system requires a keeper comfortable with the ball at his feet, capable of initiating build-up against pressing forwards. Sivera is competent in this regard. His distribution is functional rather than progressive, but in a team that prioritises defensive security over expansive play, functionality is precisely what is required.
The Goalkeepers
Antonio Sivera
Sivera is the undisputed number one and the player upon whom Alavés’ defensive structure depends. The 29-year-old arrived from Valencia’s academy system and has spent his entire senior career at Mendizorroza, making over 160 league appearances across ten seasons. His durability is remarkable: he started all 38 league matches in 2025/26 and has missed no games through injury in the past two years.
His profile is that of the traditional shot-stopper: positional, composed, and efficient rather than spectacular. He does not dominate his penalty area in the manner of a Courtois or an Oblak, but he makes the saves he should make and occasionally produces the ones he should not. His average match rating of 7.11 this season places him among the better goalkeepers in the division. In fantasy football analysis, he is described as “un portero fiable, con volumen de paradas garantizado en un equipo que sufre” — a reliable goalkeeper, guaranteed volume of saves in a team that suffers.
The concern is contractual. With his deal expiring in June 2027, Alavés face a decision: renew or risk losing him for nothing. The interest from Valencia was real, and if a suitable offer arrives in January, the club’s financial constraints may force their hand. For now, however, he remains the foundation of everything Alavés do.
Adrián Rodríguez
Rodríguez is the deputy, a 25-year-old who has been at Alavés since his youth days. Standing 195 centimetres, he offers a more physically imposing presence than Sivera, though his opportunities have been limited by the incumbent’s consistency. During pre-season he wore the number 31, but with Owono’s expected departure he was handed the number 13 shirt and promoted to the role of direct backup.
His profile is that of the developing deputy: tall, athletic, and learning the demands of top-flight football from one of La Liga’s most durable starters. He is not a challenger for Sivera’s position; he is an insurance policy. Whether he is ready to step in if required remains untested.
Jesús Owono
Owono is the departing goalkeeper, an Equatorial Guinea international who was not included in the squad for the opening fixture and was expected to leave Mendizorroza before the window closed. His departure removes a senior option from the department but also frees up a squad place and salary for Quique’s rebuild.
Grégoire Swiderski
Swiderski is the academy option, a 19-year-old French goalkeeper who completes the senior squad. He is not expected to feature for the first team this season, but his presence reflects Alavés’ commitment to maintaining a full complement of goalkeepers and developing internal solutions.
The Numbers Game
Table A: Deportivo Alavés Goalkeeper La Liga Statistics (2026/27)
| Player | Apps (Starts) | Minutes | Goals Against | Clean Sheets | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antonio Sivera | 10 (10) | 900 | 11 | 3 | Ever-present, undisputed |
| Adrián Rodríguez | 0 (0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | Deputy, number 13 |
| Jesús Owono | 0 (0) | 0 | 0 | 0 | Expected to leave |
Table B: Deportivo Alavés Goalkeeper Unit – Key Metrics (2026/27)
| Metric | Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Sivera Goals Against per 90 | 1.10 | Mid-table among La Liga goalkeepers |
| Sivera Clean Sheets | 3 | In 10 league matches |
| Sivera Match Rating | 7.11 | Among La Liga’s better goalkeepers |
| Sivera Contract Expiry | June 2027 | Renewal or sale decision looming |
| Team Goals Against per Game | 1.10 | 11 conceded in 10 matches |
Table C: Goalkeeper Career Context & Pedigree
| Player | Nationality | Previous Clubs | Style Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antonio Sivera | Spain | Valencia Academy | Traditional shot-stopper, positional, durable, reliable |
| Adrián Rodríguez | Spain | Alavés Academy | Tall, developing, deputy option |
| Jesús Owono | Equatorial Guinea | Alavés Academy | Departing, squad depth |
| Grégoire Swiderski | France | Alavés Academy | Young prospect, development |
Tactical Identity & Squad Balance
Alavés’ goalkeeping unit is a study in settled hierarchy. Sivera is the starter, Rodríguez is the deputy, and the supporting cast provides depth without drama. It is not a department of star names, but it is one of clarity — and in a season where Alavés have conceded 11 goals in 10 matches while scoring 14, clarity has been enough to keep them in seventh place.
The numbers tell a story of adequacy rather than excellence. Sivera’s three clean sheets in ten matches is a respectable return for a team that finished 14th last season and was only one point outside the relegation zone. His 11 goals conceded places him in the middle of La Liga’s goalkeeping cohort. He is reliable without being extraordinary, and for a club of Alavés’ resources, reliability is the priority.
The supporting cast offers limited reassurance. Rodríguez is untested at La Liga level. Owono is leaving. Swiderski is a prospect. If Sivera suffers an injury or a loss of form, Alavés have no proven alternative. The fragility is structural, but it has not yet been tested.
The January window is unlikely to see goalkeeping reinforcements. Sivera’s contract situation is the more pressing concern, and the club’s resources are better directed toward the attacking positions that Quique will need to strengthen if Alavés are to maintain their surprising top-half position. The priority is to ensure Sivera remains available and, ideally, to secure his future beyond June 2027.
The Verdict from the Camp
Diario AS, on the goalkeeping situation:
“Sivera es el portero titular sin ningún tipo de debate. Había sonado para el Valencia y, al terminar contrato en 2027, o se le renueva o quizás se le venda. Pero, por ahora, se queda.”
Jornada Perfecta, on Sivera’s fantasy value:
“En portería, cómo no, Sivera sigue siendo el titular, sin mucha competencia por el momento. Es un portero fiable, con volumen de paradas garantizado en un equipo que sufre, lo que en fantasy suele traducirse en puntuaciones estables incluso en derrotas.”
El Correo, on the squad numbers:
“Adrián Rodríguez, que durante la pretemporada ha llevado el 31, coge el 13 que en verano ha llevado el meta ecuatoguineano y será la alternativa a Antonio Sivera bajo palos.”
Where Next?
Alavés’ goalkeeping priority is clear: they need Sivera to stay fit, and they need to resolve his contract situation. The 29-year-old has been one of the most durable goalkeepers in La Liga, but with his deal expiring in June 2027, the club faces a decision that will shape the department for years to come. A renewal would secure the foundation of Quique’s project; a sale would generate funds but leave a void that Rodríguez is not yet ready to fill.
The development of Rodríguez is the secondary subplot. At 25, he is at the age where regular football becomes essential. If he cannot break through at Alavés, a loan move may be necessary to further his development. The club’s willingness to promote him to deputy suggests they see a future for him, but the path to regular minutes is blocked by Sivera’s consistency.
The January window is unlikely to bring changes. Alavés’ defensive record is respectable, and the goalkeeping department, for all its fragility, has functioned effectively. The priority is to maintain the status quo and hope that Sivera’s body holds.
For now, Alavés’ goalkeepers are a unit defined by quiet reliability. Sivera is the starter, Rodríguez the understudy, and the supporting cast provides depth without drama. The question is whether reliability is enough for a club with Alavés’ ambitions. The early-season evidence suggests it might be — as long as Sivera stays on the pitch.
