Deportivo Alaves 1-2 Sevilla Player Ratings: Rubén Vargas 8.5/10 Rated as Sevilla Clinches Narrow 2-1 Victory

Sevilla managed to grind out a hard-fought 2-1 victory against a stubborn Deportivo Alaves side in a match that had a bit of everything. From our perspective, this was a game defined by key moments rather than sustained dominance from either team.

The action kicked off almost immediately. Ruben Vargas opened the scoring for the visitors with an absolutely stunning strike from distance inside ten minutes. But the lead was short-lived. A clumsy challenge from Marcao in the box gifted Deportivo Alaves a penalty, which Carlos Vicente coolly converted. The match became a scrappy affair, littered with fouls and yellow cards, reflecting the high stakes.

It was an early substitute, Alexis Sanchez, who became the unlikely hero for Sevilla. He found the back of the net midway through the second half to restore his team's lead. Despite a late push from the home side, Sevilla's defense, led by a busy Odysseas Vlachodimos in goal, held firm to secure all three points on the road. Here are the Deportivo Alaves vs Sevilla player ratings.

Deportivo Alavés Player Ratings vs Sevilla

Here are the Deportivo Alaves player ratings vs Sevilla.

Goalkeeper

Antonio Sivera - 6.0: There was little he could do about the first goal; it was a rocket. He only made one save inside the box all game, which is a bit concerning. His distribution was also quite poor, with less than 50% pass accuracy. Just not a commanding performance from our perspective.

Defenders

Facundo Garcés - 7.0: A solid outing for the defender. He was a rock at the back with six clearances and won all his tackles. He even posed a threat on the other end, though he should have done better with his header. A reliable performance in a losing effort.

Nahuel Tenaglia - 6.5: He had a mixed game. On one hand, he made a few important clearances and interceptions. On the other hand, he was dribbled past and struggled in the air. He tried to contribute going forward but his final ball was lacking.

Jonny Otto - 6.5: A quiet but efficient game from Jonny. He was very tidy in possession, boasting a 93% pass accuracy. Defensively, he was solid enough, winning most of his duels, but didn't make a huge impact on the game's flow. A steady, if unspectacular, performance.

Moussa Diarra - 6.0: We noticed he struggled to impose himself on the match. His passing was off, and he was caught out of position a couple of times. It wasn't a surprise to see him subbed off after 72 minutes. Not his best day.

Midfielders

Denis Suárez - 6.0: We expected more from a player of his quality. He was largely anonymous for long stretches of the game. He lost the ball a few too many times and was dribbled past on three occasions. A forgettable performance before being substituted.

Antonio Blanco - 6.5: The captain put in a real shift. He was everywhere, making tackles and interceptions. However, he was a bit too aggressive, committing three fouls and picking up a yellow card. His passing was decent but he lost possession quite often.

Jon Guridi - 5.5: Really struggled to get into the game at all. He lost most of his duels and offered very little going forward or defensively. Substituted before the hour mark, which tells you all you need to know. A disappointing outing.

Forwards

Carlos Vicente - 7.5: He was the brightest spark for Deportivo Alavés. He showed great composure to win the penalty and then convert it. He was a constant menace on the wing, drawing five fouls from the opposition. A very good performance, despite the result.

Carles Aleñá - 5.0: A day to forget for Aleñá. His crucial error led directly to Sevilla's opening goal, a moment that completely deflated his team. Beyond that mistake, his overall contribution was minimal. He was rightly hooked before 60 minutes.

Lucas Boyé - 6.0: He fought hard up top but it was a frustrating evening for him. He lost a staggering 10 duels and was largely isolated. He managed one shot on target but never really looked like scoring. You can't fault his effort, but the quality wasn't there.

Substitutes

Toni Martínez - 6.5: Came on and tried to make things happen, forcing a good save from the keeper.

Pablo Ibáñez - 6.0: Added some energy but couldn't change the game's direction.

Mariano Díaz - 5.5: Committed a few fouls and didn't offer much of a threat.

Youssef Enríquez - 6.0: Had limited time to make a real impact.

Abde Rebbach - 6.5: Looked lively and set up a decent chance for Martínez.

Manager

E. Coudet - 6.0: His team fought back after going down early. However, his substitutions failed to provide the spark needed to find a second equalizer. A tough day at the office against a resilient opponent.

Sevilla Player Ratings vs Deportivo Alavés

Here are the Sevilla player ratings vs Deportivo Alaves.

Goalkeeper

Odysseas Vlachodimos - 7.5: A very solid performance between the sticks. He made four saves, including a brilliant one late in the game to preserve the lead. He couldn't do anything about the penalty. His ball recovery was excellent, and he commanded his area well, despite the yellow card for time-wasting.

Defenders

César Azpilicueta - 6.5: A typically experienced and rugged display. He won most of his aerial battles and was strong in the duel. However, he gave away a couple of needless fouls and picked up a late yellow card. A solid, if unspectacular, game.

Tanguy Nianzou - 6.5: He was a physical presence at the back, winning a lot of aerial duels. His passing was impressively accurate. But he was also reckless at times, earning a yellow card for a clumsy challenge. Substituted with 15 minutes to go.

Marcão - 5.5: A really tough day at the office for the captain. That penalty he conceded was just so clumsy and unnecessary. From our perspective it completely changed the momentum of the game. He won a few duels but the huge error really drags his rating down significantly.

Midfielders

José Ángel Carmona - 7.5: A fantastic contribution from the midfielder. He provided the crucial assist for the winning goal with a perfect cross. He was a threat down the right side and worked tirelessly until he was substituted late on. A game-winning impact.

Gabriel Suazo - 7.5: What a workhorse. He was all over the pitch, making an incredible six successful tackles. His energy was vital in breaking up Alavés' attacks. Yes, he got a yellow card, but his defensive contribution was immense. An excellent, battling display.

Lucien Agoumé - 8.0: A dominant performance in the heart of midfield. He won 83% of his duels which is just incredible. He was calm on the ball, created two chances, and broke up play effectively. An absolutely colossal presence for his team.

Batista Mendy - 6.0: He was a foul machine. He committed five fouls and picked up a deserved yellow card. While he won a lot of duels, his recklessness constantly put his team under pressure. He needs to add more discipline to his game.

Forwards

Isaac Romero - 6.5: A frustrating night for the forward. He worked incredibly hard, but he lost possession 16 times and struggled to make a real impact in the final third. He showed flashes of skill but ultimately couldn't find a breakthrough himself.

Rubén Vargas - 8.5: What a player. That opening goal was an absolute screamer a thing of beauty from outside the box. He was a constant thorn in Alavés' side until he was subbed off. We noticed he was always looking to create something. Easily the highest-rated player on the pitch for us, a truly standout performance.

Alfon González - N/A: His game was cruelly cut short by an injury just 14 minutes in. It's impossible to give a fair rating in such a short time.

Substitutes

Alexis Sánchez - 8.0: Came on early for an injured teammate and ended up the match-winner. A classic poacher's finish from the center of the box. You can't ask for more from a substitute.

Nemanja Gudelj - 6.5: Came on to shore up the defense and did his job effectively.

Akor Adams - 6.0: Didn't have much time or opportunity to get involved in the game.

Juanlu Sánchez - N/A: A late substitution to see out the game.

Peque Fernández - N/A: Came on very late and picked up a yellow card.

Manager

M. Almeyda - 7.5: His team showed great character to win on the road. The decision to bring on Alexis Sánchez proved to be a masterstroke. He managed the game well in the final stages to secure a vital three points.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Rubén Vargas