Preview: Alaves vs. Sevilla
Sevilla will be aiming to record their first win of the 2023-24 season when they travel to Alaves in Spain’s top flight on Monday evening.
The visitors opened their La Liga campaign with a 2-1 home loss to Valencia last weekend, while Alaves were beaten 1-0 by Cadiz in their first game of the new season.
Alaves secured a return to Spain’s top flight through last season’s Segunda Division playoffs, overcoming Eibar in the semi-finals before beating Levante in the final.
El Glorioso spent six straight seasons in La Liga before their relegation at the end of the 2021-22 campaign, but they managed to secure a return to the top level at the first time of asking through the playoffs.
Alaves suffered a 1-0 defeat to Cadiz in their league opener on Monday, with Fede San Emeterio’s seventh-minute effort proving to be the difference between the two sides.
Luis Garcia’s side have been busy during the summer transfer window, bringing in the likes of Antonio Blanco, Ander Guevara and Andoni Gorosabel.
Alaves have actually held Sevilla to draws in the last two league meetings between the two sides, including a 0-0 in the corresponding future during the 2021-22 campaign.
Preview: Alaves vs. Sevilla – prediction, team news, lineups
Sevilla, meanwhile, suffered a 2-1 defeat to Valencia in their season opener on August 11; Youssef En-Nesyri cancelled out an opener from Mouctar Diakhaby to leave the teams level at Estadio Ramon, but Javi Guerra won it for Los Che in the latter stages of the contest.
Jose Luis Mendilibar’s side were in action in the UEFA Super Cup on Wednesday evening, meanwhile, and they impressed for long spells against Manchester City, with the two teams level at the end of the 90 minutes.
A penalty shootout was therefore required to separate the two teams, which Man City won 5-4, but Sevilla would have taken plenty of heart from their performance against the best side in world football.
Sevilla have made three signings this summer, bringing in Loic Bade, Djibril Sow and Adria Pedrosa, while Bono has been their major outgoing, with the goalkeeper joining Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.
Los Nervionenses finished 12th in La Liga last season – their lowest spot since being relegated in 2000 – but they qualified for the Champions League by winning the Europa League.
Alaves La Liga form:
L
Sevilla La Liga form:
L
Sevilla form (all competitions):
LL
We say: Alaves 1-2 Sevilla
Sevilla will have been encouraged by their performance against Man City last time out, and they will be desperate to bounce back from their opening-weekend loss in La Liga. Alaves are capable of making this a very tough match for Sevilla, but we are backing the visitors to secure all three points.