Alcoyano and Poblense Play to Stalemate as Visiting Side Maintains Unbeaten Away Form

The scoreboard at Estadio El Collao told only part of the story Sunday afternoon, where Alcoyano and Poblense played out a goalless draw that reflected more about defensive discipline than offensive impotence. In a Segunda División RFEF Group 3 encounter that featured few clear-cut chances, the visitors extended their impressive early-season away record while the hosts dropped points at home for the third time in five matches.

Poblense arrived in Alcoy riding a three-match winning streak and carrying the confidence of a side that had scored in each of those victories. Yet Vicente Parras's men found themselves stifled throughout the 90 minutes, unable to replicate the attacking verve that produced three goals at Andratx just two weeks prior. The Balearic Island club's inability to find the breakthrough meant they remained fourth in the table on 10 points, though they preserved their unbeaten status with four wins and a draw from five outings.

For Alcoyano, the draw represented a continuation of their inconsistent form. The hosts entered Sunday's match having defeated Barbastro 1-0 the previous weekend, a result that appeared to steady the ship after a humbling 4-1 defeat at Castellón II. But their performance against Poblense suggested a team still searching for identity. They managed just two wins from five matches this campaign, and Sunday's result marked their third draw—the most of any team in the group's upper half.

The match unfolded with a cautious tempo from the opening whistle. Both sides appeared content to probe rather than penetrate, with midfield congestion becoming the afternoon's defining characteristic. Alcoyano's back line, which had conceded four goals in that disastrous trip to Castellón, looked considerably more organized on home soil. They compressed space effectively and denied Poblense's attackers the kind of room they had exploited against Sant Andreu, where a 72nd-minute winner secured three points.

Poblense's recent road form made them dangerous opponents despite the lack of scoring opportunities Sunday. The visitors had claimed victories at Andratx and against Espanyol II, showcasing a pragmatic approach that prioritized defensive solidity. Their clean sheet at Estadio El Collao marked their third shutout in five matches, a defensive record bettered by only two clubs in the 18-team division.

The second half offered marginally more entertainment, though clear chances remained scarce. Alcoyano pushed forward with greater urgency, perhaps sensing that Poblense's conservative setup might crack under sustained pressure. The hosts had demonstrated late-game resilience before, securing an 80th-minute winner against Andratx in September. But no such dramatics materialized Sunday, as both goalkeepers enjoyed relatively quiet afternoons.

The point does little to satisfy either club's ambitions. Alcoyano sits seventh on eight points, a position that reflects neither crisis nor comfort. Their two wins have come by identical 1-0 scorelines—narrow victories against Barbastro and Andratx that suggest a team capable of grinding out results without dominating proceedings. Yet the heavy defeat at Castellón II looms as evidence of their vulnerability against more clinical opponents.

Poblense, meanwhile, will view the result through the lens of opportunity squandered. They arrived as the higher-ranked side and departed without extending their winning streak. Their offensive output—seven goals in five matches—ranks them among the division's more productive sides, making Sunday's blank particularly frustrating. The Balearic outfit has built their early success on defensive organization and opportunistic finishing, qualities that delivered three goals in a 24-minute span at Andratx but failed to materialize in Alcoy.

Both clubs now turn their attention to maintaining their positions in the congested upper reaches of Group 3. Alcoyano must find greater consistency if they hope to challenge for promotion, while Poblense will look to bounce back and reclaim the winning form that characterized their first four matches. Sunday's stalemate served as reminder that in the unforgiving environment of Spain's fourth tier, even the smallest tactical adjustments can mean the difference between three points and one.