Alavés 2 - Sevilla 1

Alavés: Costanzo; Edu Alonso, Gaspar, Sarriegi, Coromina; De Lucas (Jandro 78'), Astudillo, Carpintero, Nené (Lacen 88'); Bodipo, Aloisi (Juanito 83'). 4-4-2.
Sevilla: Palop; Daniel Alves, Javi Navarro, Aitor Ocio, Escudé; Jesús Navas, Renato (Kanouté 60'), Jordi, Antonio Puerta; Kepa (Martí 46'), Saviola (Luis Fabiano 60'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Alavés: Carpintero for Juanito / Sevilla: Palop, Javi Navarro, Aitor Ocio, Jordi, Antonio Puerta, Kepa for Notario, Dragutinovic, David, Maresca, Adriano, Kanouté.

Goals:
0-1. 10. Saviola. Turned ball in off far post after Alves crossed in from right wing.
1-1. 24. Nené. Picked up Astudillo pass and fired shot into far top corner of net.
2-1. 45. Bodipo. From close up on near post after De Lucas crossed in from right.

Sevilla lost ground on the Champions League spots after they were beaten 2-1 by Alavés, and they ended the weekend five points behind Osasuna in sixth place. Saviola got the Andalusians off to a good start when Saviola turned a cross from Daniel Alves in off the post in the tenth minute, but five minutes later the Andalusians were left with ten men when Aitor Ocio incomprehensibly gave away a penalty and got himself sent off five minutes later for stopping Sarriegi's effort with his hands. Palop (who was comfortably going to save from Sarriegi) nevertheless saved Nené's spot kick, but the Brazilian winger made up for his mistake with a spectacular strike to level the scores soon afterwards.

With Antonio Puerta pulling back to defend the left flank, Marcos Alonso saw no reason to change his line up after Ocio left the field, and his side could have restored the lead when Jesús Navas was foiled by Costanzo. Palop had to be at his best at the other end though to keep out Astudillo before the break, and with the first half already in injury time De Lucas produced a good run down the wing before crossing in for Bodipo to poke a shot past the keeper.

Alonso did strengthen his midfield at the break though, Martí replacing Kepa, but he changed his mind on the hour mark and brought on Luis Fabiano and Kanouté up front. Luis Fabiano should have equalised a few minutes later when he headed wide in front of goal, and after the visitors suddenly found themselves with a man advantage after Bodipo and Juanito were sent off in quick succession, Sevilla flung themselves forward. However it was too late, and when Jordi shot wide in injury time it was all over. Alavés had a vital three points which took them out of the drop zone, although it didn't prevent many of their fans from signing a petition asking for the resignation of club president Dmitri Piterman.