Deportivo Alavés secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Sevilla to book their place in the Copa del Rey Round of 32, overcoming the Andalusian side in a tense encounter at the Miguel Sesma Espinosa Stadium, Spain.
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The decisive moment arrived in the 79th minute, when Carlos Vicente calmly converted from the penalty spot, sending the home fans into celebration and sealing Alavés’ progression in the competition.
Sevilla went into the fixture full of confidence following a commanding 4-0 win in their previous outing, bringing attacking intent into the tie. However, despite enjoying spells of pressure, they were unable to find a breakthrough against a disciplined Alavés defence.
Nigerian duo Akor Adams and Chidera Ejuke were absent, a factor that limited Sevilla’s attacking options on the night.
Alavés, who came into the game with two wins in their last five matches, executed their game plan effectively, staying compact and taking advantage of their crucial moment late in the contest.
In league context, the result defied recent trends. Sevilla sit slightly above Alavés in La Liga, holding 20 points compared to Alavés’ 18, and had also defeated the Basque side 2-1 in their most recent league meeting.
This cup clash, however, belonged to Alavés, who showed resilience and composure to eliminate their higher-ranked opponents.
The victory marks an important boost for Alavés as they continue their Copa del Rey journey, while Sevilla will now turn their focus back to domestic league action.
