Sevilla 2-0 Alaves
Sevilla kept their top four hopes very much alive with a 2-0 win over rivals Alaves thanks to a goal in each half, courtesy of Roque Mesa and Pablo Sarabia.
Some 33,000 fans were at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan for this crucial game at the top end of La Liga, knowing that the winner could close in on fourth place, which is currently held by Getafe.
Joaquin Caparros has taken over as caretaker manager following the sacking of Pablo Machin after Sevilla exited the Europa League. So the new bosses’ attention is on qualifying for Europe again, and this was a big result.
But while the hosts climbed up to fifth and to within a point of Getafe, it was a blow to Abelardo’s Alaves, who drop to seventh.
For SBOBET La Liga fans, the race for fourth place is as exciting as anything, and it looks like going down to the wire.
Highlights of the game
With midfield general Ever Banega suspended and a number of other first-team players sidelined, Sevilla had to rely on the depth of their squad, and they certainly started in a positive mood.
Wissam Ben Yedder — a hot property in European football — is in the top four scorers in the league this season with 16 goals, and he’s also added six assists. He was lively in the early exchanges, finding Franco Vazquez in space in the centre of the penalty area, but the Argentine’s shot was too high.
Pablo Sarabia was industrious too as the hosts pushed forward. He teed up two chances for Munir El Haddadi, who had his first shot charged down. He then came very close with a header on 22 minutes as it flew inches over the bar.
Sarabia then laid a chance on for Daniel Carrico, but his shot was too close to Alaves keeper Fernando Pachecho, who saved comfortably.
The visitors finally came out on the attack as the half wore on with Jonathan Calleri, their most threatening striker. The Sevilla keeper Juan Soriano was brought into action as he pushed a close-range Calleri effort away for a corner.
But Sevilla struck first with a goal before half-time. Sarabia was again the supplier as he fed midfielder Roque Mesa, who made no mistake with his finish.
While Pachecho hadn’t been overly busy in the Alaves goal, Sevilla went in with a half-time lead they deserved. And the referee became busier, handing out three late yellow cards as things became tetchy.
And there were two early cards in the second half, including for goal scorer Mesa, as Sevilla fought to hold on to their lead without either team really threatening to add to the score.
The visitors have been more prolific on the road than at home for much of the season, but there was little sign of them making their mark on this game.
The hosts had one or two speculative efforts without forcing Pachecho into action, and as the match reached 70 minutes it looked like we were heading for a 1-0. Abelardo changed things up, bringing on John Guidetti to replace Calleri.
But it was Sevilla who finally struck again and it was their two most influential players combining on a fast break. Ben Yedder passed to Sarabia on the right side of the penalty area, and the Spaniard slotted home, low into the corner.
Key statistics
Sevilla had much the better of the first 45 minutes, though Alaves began to show more intent as the half wore on. The hosts enjoyed 65 per cent possession and had nine shots to Alaves’ two, with three to one on target.
The pre-match odds of a home win at 1.41 looked about right as Sevilla had the better of a subdued Alaves side all night. They ended up with eighteen shots with five on target, while Alaves managed just four and one.
What’s next?
We consider Sevilla as a contender for ‘best of the rest’ and a top-four place is still within their grasp; the La Liga 2019 betting odds back that up. On tonight’s showing, though not spectacular, they’ll be there or thereabouts.
Next up, Sevilla have an away trip to relegation-threatened Valladolid and then a home game against Real Betis, a team still in the hunt for European places.
Then there is a crunch match over Easter away to fourth-placed Getafe. That should be a great game and we’ll be right on the spot with the latest La Liga 2019 updates.
Alaves have a tricky away game to Leganes up next, and are at home to Valladolid. Those games present a decent chance to get more points on the board and back in contention.
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