Mikel Rodríguez Vitoria-Gasteizen
Mikel Rodríguez has begun his new journey in Vitoria-Gasteiz in an exceptional manner. The Deportivo Alavés’s second signing in this summer market, following Ville Koski, was the only player to debut officially with the team during the opening league match.
As the team awaits for players like Miguel Rodríguez or Nicolás Valentini to integrate into the squad more regularly, Rodríguez from Getaria has established himself as the standout acquisition of the transfer window so far. However, it’s vital to note that only one pre-season match and one league match have been played, so it is quite early to draw conclusions.
Despite this, the impressions with Mikel are extremely positive. During the minutes he played, he showcased impressive skill and even scored his first goal in the top division, sealing a 3-0 victory against Getafe. Fans of Real Sociedad have also taken notice of his performance, with many questioning his transfer to Alavés.
It is important to remember that the txuri-urdin team retains 50% of his rights and an option to buy back for four million euros. The strong competition in the midfield of coach Pellegrino Matarazzo left him without space at Amara’s team, prompting Alavés to reach out after his remarkable season in the second division with Sanse, where he scored two goals and provided two assists in over 2,100 minutes of play.
Debut and Preseason
During his official debut, Mikel had to wait nearly an hour to step onto the pitch. In the 57th minute, coach Quique Sánchez Flores substituted Aitor Mañas and Denis Suárez for Mariano Díaz and Mikel Rodríguez.
Alavés had a numerical advantage from the first half, thanks to the expulsion of former Alavés player Kiko Femenía, and was trying to reflect this superiority on the scoreboard. Chances were limited, and the team needed more rhythm and creativity in the midfield to unbalance the game.
When Mariano assisted twice and scored, Mikel contributed significantly to the game. His ability to command the midfield became apparent, especially when Blanco was not performing well. With a shift to a more offensive 4-4-2 formation, Mikel was moved to the right wing, where he found opportunities to create danger rapidly.
With the score at 1-0, Mikel had a clear counter-attacking chance, where he sprinted 60 meters and outmaneuvered the only defender. However, he missed the shot, which did not dampen his spirits. Later, with the game decided after Mariano’s second goal, Mikel perfectly controlled the ball in the area to make it 3-0 on his debut. This goal was the cherry on top of a perfect day, resulting in joyful celebration among friends and family in the stands.
Mikel’s performances in pre-season have shown great potential, and with his debut goal, he emerges as a possible revelation for this Liga season.