Yassir Zabiri was the hero for Santander as his brace proved the difference in a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Alavés in La Liga. The striker's two-goal display gave his side all three points, though the visitors made them work for every moment of the result in a contest that was far tighter than the scoreline might suggest.

Zabiri opened the scoring to give Santander the lead, and the home faithful barely had time to settle before the forward doubled his tally to put his team in a commanding position. His movement, finishing, and composure in front of goal were a level above anything else on the pitch, and he will rightly take the plaudits for a decisive individual contribution.

Alavés, to their credit, refused to go quietly. They pulled a goal back to set up a tense final stretch, and much of their resilience was built on the outstanding performance of goalkeeper Julen Agirrezabala. The shot-stopper produced an incredible seven saves throughout the match, repeatedly denying Santander attackers who looked certain to extend their advantage. Without Agirrezabala between the posts, the scoreline could have been far more lopsided.

Despite the goalkeeper's heroics, Alavés could not find the equaliser they craved. Santander's defensive resolve held firm under sustained late pressure, and the hosts saw out the closing minutes to secure a valuable three points. The result boosts Santander's La Liga standing and gives them momentum heading into their upcoming fixtures.

For Alavés, who have faced a demanding run of fixtures against the likes of Sevilla, Getafe, Valencia, Osasuna, and Girona in recent weeks, the defeat is another setback in their bid to climb the table. Agirrezabala's performance was a silver lining, but the inability to convert enough chances ultimately cost them. Zabiri's brace, meanwhile, will live long in the memory of the Santander faithful as a clinical display that turned the tide of a closely contested encounter.