diff --git a/datafusion/sql/src/utils.rs b/datafusion/sql/src/utils.rs
index af2e1c79427cc..43fb98e54545c 100644
--- a/datafusion/sql/src/utils.rs
+++ b/datafusion/sql/src/utils.rs
@@ -406,6 +406,24 @@ impl RecursiveUnnestRewriter<'_> {
             .collect()
     }
 
+    /// Check if the current expression is at the root level for struct unnest purposes.
+    /// This is true if:
+    /// 1. The expression IS the root expression, OR
+    /// 2. The root expression is an Alias wrapping this expression
+    ///
+    /// This allows `unnest(struct_col) AS alias` to work, where the alias is simply
+    /// ignored for struct unnest (matching DuckDB behavior).
+    fn is_at_struct_allowed_root(&self, expr: &Expr) -> bool {
+        if expr == self.root_expr {
+            return true;
+        }
+        // Allow struct unnest when root is an alias wrapping the unnest
+        if let Expr::Alias(Alias { expr: inner, .. }) = self.root_expr {
+            return inner.as_ref() == expr;
+        }
+        false
+    }
+
     fn transform(
         &mut self,
         level: usize,
@@ -566,7 +584,8 @@ impl TreeNodeRewriter for RecursiveUnnestRewriter<'_> {
                 // instead of unnest(struct_arr_col, depth = 2)
 
                 let unnest_recursion = unnest_stack.len();
-                let struct_allowed = (&expr == self.root_expr) && unnest_recursion == 1;
+                let struct_allowed =
+                    self.is_at_struct_allowed_root(&expr) && unnest_recursion == 1;
 
                 let mut transformed_exprs = self.transform(
                     unnest_recursion,
@@ -574,7 +593,9 @@ impl TreeNodeRewriter for RecursiveUnnestRewriter<'_> {
                     inner_expr,
                     struct_allowed,
                 )?;
-                if struct_allowed {
+                // Only set transformed_root_exprs for struct unnest (which returns multiple expressions).
+                // For list unnest (single expression), we let the normal rewrite handle the alias.
+                if struct_allowed && transformed_exprs.len() > 1 {
                     self.transformed_root_exprs = Some(transformed_exprs.clone());
                 }
                 return Ok(Transformed::new(
diff --git a/datafusion/sqllogictest/test_files/unnest.slt b/datafusion/sqllogictest/test_files/unnest.slt
index 352056adbf813..f939cd0154a82 100644
--- a/datafusion/sqllogictest/test_files/unnest.slt
+++ b/datafusion/sqllogictest/test_files/unnest.slt
@@ -58,6 +58,20 @@ select unnest(struct(1,2,3));
 ----
 1 2 3
 
+## Basic unnest expression in select struct with alias (alias is ignored for struct unnest)
+query III
+select unnest(struct(1,2,3)) as ignored_alias;
+----
+1 2 3
+
+## Verify schema output for struct unnest with alias (alias is ignored)
+query TTT
+describe select unnest(struct(1,2,3)) as ignored_alias;
+----
+__unnest_placeholder(struct(Int64(1),Int64(2),Int64(3))).c0 Int64 YES
+__unnest_placeholder(struct(Int64(1),Int64(2),Int64(3))).c1 Int64 YES
+__unnest_placeholder(struct(Int64(1),Int64(2),Int64(3))).c2 Int64 YES
+
 ## Basic unnest list expression in from clause
 query I
 select * from unnest([1,2,3]);
@@ -798,9 +812,21 @@ NULL 1
 query error DataFusion error: Error during planning: Column in SELECT must be in GROUP BY or an aggregate function: While expanding wildcard, column "nested_unnest_table\.column1" must appear in the GROUP BY clause or must be part of an aggregate function, currently only "UNNEST\(nested_unnest_table\.column1\)\[c0\]" appears in the SELECT clause satisfies this requirement
 select unnest(column1) c1 from nested_unnest_table group by c1.c0;
 
-# TODO: this query should work. see issue: https://github.com/apache/datafusion/issues/12794
-query error DataFusion error: Internal error: Assertion failed: struct_allowed: unnest on struct can only be applied at the root level of select expression
+## Unnest struct with alias - alias is ignored (same as DuckDB behavior)
+## See: https://github.com/apache/datafusion/issues/12794
+query TT?
 select unnest(column1) c1 from nested_unnest_table
+----
+a b {c0: c}
+d e {c0: f}
+
+## Verify schema output for struct unnest with alias (alias is ignored)
+query TTT
+describe select unnest(column1) c1 from nested_unnest_table;
+----
+__unnest_placeholder(nested_unnest_table.column1).c0 Utf8 YES
+__unnest_placeholder(nested_unnest_table.column1).c1 Utf8 YES
+__unnest_placeholder(nested_unnest_table.column1).c2 Struct("c0": Utf8) YES
 
 query II??I??
 select unnest(column5), * from unnest_table;