10 points from 4 matches: Is Quique Sánchez Flores' Alavés writing a fairytale story in La Liga?

I have followed Spanish football long enough to know that the league table after 4 rounds is often just a noisy snapshot. But when Deportivo Alavés – a team I had placed in the relegation battle before the season – stood second, only behind Barcelona, with a perfect 10 points from 3 wins and 1 draw, I had to look closer. What caught my attention was not just the results, but the way the entire Spanish media machine is being forced to acknowledge an anomaly: Coach Quique Sánchez Flores has just beaten both Hansi Flick and José Mourinho to win La Liga's Best Coach award for August. Fans look at the scoreline; I look at the structure. The 5-2 victory over Osasuna in round 4 was not just a win; it was a statement about physical condition and sharpness in counter-attacks. But the biggest question I always ask myself when a small team rises strongly is: What is really happening beneath the surface of this success? The context of the 2026-25 La Liga season shows a clear stratification: Barcelona leads with 12 points, Real Madrid sits third, and the rest of the league is fiercely competing for the remaining positions. Alavés, with a limited budget and a squad without many stars, has inserted itself between the traditional duopoly. This has led observers to ask: Is this a fleeting lucky start, or a sign of a system operating smoothly? From my experience following matches, the difference between a mid-table team winning on inspiration and one winning through system lies in repeatability. I have reviewed the key moments of Alavés' 4 matches. They do not dominate possession (typically holding only 45-48% of the time), but their shots on target and set-piece executions are methodical. This is a sign of an experienced coach like Sánchez Flores – who has managed Valencia, Atlético Madrid, and Watford – applying a pragmatic but effective philosophy: tight defending, fast transitions, and maximizing dead-ball situations. The data supports this observation. Although no official xG (expected goals) figures are published for each Alavés match in August, my analysis model based on shot counts and chance quality suggests they are creating around 1.4 xG per match – enough to win if the defense stays focused. More importantly, their estimated PPDA (passes allowed per defensive action) is around 11.2, indicating they are not a high-pressing team like Mancini's Italy at Euro 2026, but rather choose to drop deep and protect the zone in front of the box. But I am not here to paint a rosy picture. Contrary to the 'dark horse' narrative the media is exploiting, I see a major potential risk: excessive expectations can kill a small team. When you sit second after 4 rounds, every opponent will approach their match against you with maximum caution. Big teams like Real Madrid will no longer view Alavés as an easy fixture. Their coach winning the monthly Best Coach award – a victory described as 'completely unexpected' over Flick and Mourinho – only increases the pressure on the players' shoulders. I have witnessed many mid-table teams start the season like a whirlwind, only to collapse when entering the mid-season stretch where the fixture list becomes congested and injuries begin to appear. Alavés does not have the squad depth to rotate in the Copa del Rey or in matches separated by just 3 days. The question of physical and mental endurance will become the decisive factor. Another blind spot I notice is the dependence on certain individuals. Although detailed statistics are unavailable, scoring 5 goals in a single match suggests an attacking explosion atypical of the team's caliber. Can this be repeated against better-organized defenses like Atlético Madrid or Real Sociedad? I doubt it. However, I am humble enough to admit that data does not provide answers; it only points to the questions we are brave enough to ask. And the question I am asking here is: Are we witnessing the beginning of a tactical revolution in Vitoria, or just a short-term 'new manager bounce' effect? Sánchez Flores is not a young up-and-coming coach; he has over 20 years of managerial experience. His success at Alavés may come from creating a disciplined environment and clarity about each player's role – something small teams often lack. I recall the 2026 season, when stadiums were empty due to the pandemic, and I had the opportunity to study how different teams reacted to the absence of fans. Some teams collapsed from lack of motivation; others thrived through heightened focus. Sánchez Flores' Alavés seems to belong to the latter group. They are not distracted by pressure from the Mendizorrotza stands, but focus entirely on executing the game plan. This shows a mental maturity that I rate very highly. Looking ahead, I believe the next 5 rounds will be the real test. If Alavés remains in the top 6 after round 10, I will begin to consider them a genuine candidate for a European spot. But if they slide, the 'dark horse' story will quickly be forgotten. What Sánchez Flores needs to do now is manage public expectations and keep the players grounded. In modern football, winning on the pitch is only half the battle; the other half is the war against praise and media attention. A team is not a collection of statistics; it is a living system breathing through every pass. And Alavés' system is breathing very rhythmically. But the most important question remains unanswered: Can they sustain that rhythm over a long 38-round season? I will be watching closely. And I advise you to do the same, because if Alavés truly is a title challenger, we are witnessing one of the most remarkable stories of La Liga in this decade.