

Real Aranjuez CF suffered a heavy 6-1 defeat against an impressive Alaves C side in an international club friendly played on 3 September 2026. The match provided the Spanish visitors with valuable preparation, while it underlined the gap in class between the two clubs in a fixture designed mainly to build match fitness and give squad players important minutes.
Friendly with a Competitive Edge
Although the game carried no competitive stakes, both sides treated it with seriousness, using the fixture to sharpen their tactical ideas. Alaves C, representing the third team of the famous Deportivo Alaves setup, demonstrated the technical quality and positional discipline that comes from a structured academy pathway. Real Aranjuez CF, a club that traditionally competes at the regional level in Spain, struggled to match that standard for long periods, especially during the opening half.
How the Game Played Out
Alaves C took control from the outset, pressing high and circulating the ball with confidence. Their forwards found space between the lines and routinely caused problems for the home defence, allowing the visitors to build a substantial lead before the break. Real Aranjuez improved after the interval, showing better organisation and a willingness to press forward, which resulted in a well-taken consolation goal.
However, Alaves C responded quickly, reasserting their dominance and adding further goals to complete the rout. The fixture served its purpose as a test of depth and fitness, with several players in the visiting lineup using the match to push for more regular selection.
Key Observations
- Alaves C's movement: The visitors' rotation in the final third was difficult for Real Aranjuez to track, leading to several clear goalscoring opportunities.
- Young players on show: The match featured a number of academy products eager to impress, giving it extra intensity despite its friendly nature.
- Real Aranjuez's spirit: Trailing heavily, the hosts continued to compete and their goal in the second half demonstrated a refusal to fade quietly.
Broader Context
For Real Aranjuez CF, results in friendlies matter less than the development and cohesion gained ahead of their competitive fixture list. Facing a structured side like Alaves C offers useful insight into the tactical standards required at higher levels of Spanish football. Alaves C, meanwhile, will take great encouragement from the margin of victory as their players look to catch the eye of coaches higher up the Alaves system and push themselves toward future inclusion with the B team or even the senior squad.