Sevilla endured a chaotic encounter at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, battling to a 1-1 draw against Alaves despite receiving three red cards.
Heading into the Valentine's Day clash, Sevilla sat 14th in La Liga. Alaves, 10th, aimed to solidify their mid-table standing. Both teams desperately needed points from this fixture.
The match began with immediate drama for Sevilla. Defender J. Sanchez received a yellow card in the second minute. He then collected a second yellow and red card in the 16th minute. Sevilla faced a daunting task with ten men so early.
Despite being a man down, Sevilla showed impressive resilience. They managed to break the deadlock just before halftime. Midfielder D. Sow found the net in the 42nd minute, delighting the home crowd.
Sevilla's opener was a testament to their fighting spirit. They absorbed significant pressure after the early dismissal. Alaves controlled possession but struggled to create clear chances.
At the break, Sevilla held an improbable lead. Alaves needed to be more incisive. The visitors aimed to press their numerical advantage to find an equalizer.
Alaves emerged from halftime with renewed intent. Their persistence paid off in the 60th minute. T. Martinez slotted home, leveling the score at 1-1. This goal finally reflected Alaves' dominance.
The drama continued shortly after. Alaves thought L. Boye had scored in the 65th minute. However, VAR intervened, disallowing the goal for offside. Sevilla gained a vital reprieve.
As the game progressed, Sevilla's disciplinary woes escalated. M. Almeyda received a straight red card in the 85th minute, reducing them to nine men. Deep into injury time, Joan Jordan was also sent off. Sevilla finished with just eight players.
Alaves dominated possession with 75% to Sevilla’s 25%. They registered 12 shots (one on target) against Sevilla's four (two on target). Expected goals highlighted Alaves' offensive threat (1.06) versus Sevilla's limited output (0.27).
This dramatic 1-1 draw sees Alaves remain above Sevilla in the La Liga standings. Both teams secured a valuable point. Sevilla's alarming three red cards will lead to suspensions and tough questions.
