AD San Juan kicked off their 2026-27 pre-season schedule in style, edging out Avance Ezcabarte 2-1 in a competitive International Club Friendly on Saturday, 15 August 2026. The match, played under the lights at a lively venue, gave both sides valuable minutes as they fine-tune their squads ahead of the new campaign.

Match Overview

What started as a cagey, tactical friendly soon opened up into an entertaining contest. AD San Juan controlled large spells of the first half, moving the ball quickly through midfield and pressing high when out of possession. Avance Ezcabarte, meanwhile, looked dangerous on the counter and punished the hosts with a well-taken equaliser after San Juan had opened the scoring.

The decisive moment arrived in the second half, when San Juan restored their advantage with a composed finish. Despite late pressure from Ezcabarte, the home side held firm to secure a morale-boosting victory in their final tune-up before the competitive season begins.

Key Moments

• First-half breakthrough: AD San Juan found the net midway through the opening period, capitalising on a defensive lapse in the Ezcabarte box.
• Quick response: Avance Ezcabarte levelled with a crisp strike from the edge of the area, showing good composure under pressure.
• Winning goal: San Juan re-took the lead early in the second half after a slick passing move carved open the away defence.
• Late resistance: Ezcabarte pushed for an equaliser in the final ten minutes, forcing a pair of sharp saves and a crucial goal-line clearance from the San Juan backline.

Tactical Story

San Juan coach used the friendly to test a high pressing system, with the full-backs pushing high to create overloads in wide areas. The approach paid off in possession but left spaces behind that Ezcabarte exploited on the break. In contrast, Avance Ezcabarte sat deeper, relying on quick transitions and direct runs in behind the defence.

The introduction of fresh legs in the second half changed the tempo for San Juan, as their substitutes added energy and width. That renewed intensity proved decisive, with the winning goal coming from sustained pressure against a tiring Ezcabarte back line.

Standout Players

San Juan's goalkeeper was arguably the man of the match, producing several important stops in the closing stages to preserve the win. At the other end, the home side's attacking trio showed promising chemistry, combining well for both goals.

For Avance Ezcabarte, the central midfielder who scored the equaliser stood out with his driving runs and willingness to engage physically. Their defenders also deserve credit for keeping the match tight in the first half, even as San Juan dominated the ball.

Season Impact

While friendlies rarely carry the weight of competitive fixtures, this result will give AD San Juan real confidence heading into their upcoming league commitments. The ability to grind out a victory after conceding an equaliser suggests a maturity that often takes time to develop in pre-season.

For Avance Ezcabarte, the narrow defeat offers a useful benchmark. They showed they can compete with well-organised opponents, and the coaching staff will take encouragement from their attacking intent and defensive organisation in spells.

Both teams now return to training ahead of their respective opening fixtures, with the fixture list set to test their readiness over the coming weeks.