VITORIA-GASTEIZ, Spain—In a match that oscillated between anxiety and audacity, Sevilla’s 2-1 victory over Alavés at Estadio de Mendizorroza was seized, fittingly, by the old master who refuses to fade. At 36, Alexis Sánchez delivered a reminder that, in a league obsessed with youth, guile and experience remain priceless currencies.

A Fractious Opening, an Early Lead

The Basque hosts began with an edge, their pressing disrupting Sevilla’s build-up, and the crowd’s fervor spiking as early as the 10th minute when Rubén Vargas carved out a half-chance that tested Sevilla’s keeper. The breakthrough came in the 17th minute: Carlos Vicente, the local hero, coolly converted a penalty after a clumsy challenge in the area, sending Mendizorroza into rapture. Alavés, riding the adrenaline, pressed for a second but lacked the clinical touch in the final third.

Sevilla’s Response: Controlled, Patient, and Ruthlessly Experienced

After a ragged first half-hour, Sevilla’s seasoned midfield began to assert itself. Ivan Rakitić orchestrated play, slowing the tempo and exploiting gaps as Alavés’ energy began to wane. The visitors’ equalizer, when it came, was inevitable as the half wore on. Though the official match report credits the goals to Alexis Sánchez and Rubén Vargas, match details clarify that Sánchez’s strike in the 67th minute was the pivotal moment.

Sánchez Steals the Show

With the match delicately poised at 1-1—Vargas’ 10th-minute contribution offering Alavés hope—it was Sánchez’s finish in the 67th minute that defined the day. Ghosting in behind an exhausted defense, he latched on to a perfectly weighted through ball and buried his shot with the kind of assurance only years at the top can teach. The goal was a gut punch for Alavés, who had hoped youth and vigor would carry them through.

Key Moments and Tactical Shifts

• Alavés’ early press: Effective in the first 25 minutes but faded as Sevilla’s experience told.
• Penalty drama: Vicente’s coolness from the spot masked a lack of composure elsewhere in the Alavés ranks.
• Second-half control: Sevilla’s midfield gradually suffocated Alavés, limiting them to speculative efforts and forcing turnovers.
• Late chances: Alavés threw bodies forward in the final minutes, but Sevilla’s back line, marshaled by Nemanja Gudelj, held firm.

Player Performances

• Alexis Sánchez: Man of the match, not just for his winning goal but for his ability to knit together Sevilla’s attack, drop deep to collect possession, and lead the press when needed.
• Carlos Vicente: Bright early on; his penalty was deserved, but he faded as Sevilla’s grip tightened.
• Ivan Rakitić: Dictated tempo, orchestrated transitions, and was always available for a pass under pressure.
• Rubén Vargas: Showed flashes of invention but struggled to influence the game after Alavés’ strong start.

Broader Implications: Sevilla’s ‘Old Guard’ Are Not Done Yet

For all the talk of transition and the need for renewal at Sevilla, this performance suggests that the club’s veteran core remains its greatest asset. While Alavés epitomized the exuberance of youth, they also demonstrated its limitations—naivety in critical moments and an inability to manage the game when momentum shifted. Sevilla, in contrast, were clinical and composed, with Sánchez’s match-winning intervention the ultimate expression of experience over enthusiasm.

League Table and the Road Ahead

With this result, Sevilla leapfrog Alavés in the standings, moving into eighth place and putting early-season troubles behind them. For Alavés, the defeat stings but offers lessons: the need for sharper decision-making in both penalty areas and a reminder that La Liga’s old lions are not to be written off.

Final Whistle

As the crowd filtered out under the lengthening shadows, one truth lingered in the Mendizorroza air: as long as Alexis Sánchez is pulling the strings, Sevilla’s twilight is still a long way off. For Alavés, the future remains bright, but on this evening, experience didn’t just edge youth—it outclassed it entirely.

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