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Sevilla and Alaves battling the drop
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Experienced Flores could be key to survival
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Sevilla v Alaves
Friday 12 January, 20:00
Live on Viaplay
Trabzonspor did the trick in Turkey yesterday, as they won their Black Sea derby 2-0 against Samsunspor to get us back on an even keel. We'll switch our attention to Spain now, because Sevilla are up against fellow strugglers Alaves, and I think the hosts can truly begin their revival under new coach Quique Sanchez Flores.
It's been a rollercoaster ride for Sevilla fans in recent months. The Andalusians won yet another Europa League last term, edging out Roma on penalties in an ill-tempered final. However, cult coach Jose Luis Mendilibar wasn't able to maintain the momentum, and was sacked a short way into the current campaign. His replacement Diego Alonso started well with a raucous draw against Real Madrid, but proved a disastrous appointment, struggling in the league and committing the cardinal sin of not even doing well enough to drop from the Champions League into the Europa League.
Now former Watford, Atletico Madrid and Getafe boss Quique Sanchez Flores has the reins, and there are encouraging signs. A 3-0 win at Granada was a great start, and although there have been defeats since, there's a chance to put more points on the board here against an Alaves side that is simply atrocious on the road.
You have to go back to October 2021 for Alaves' last away win in La Liga, and since then they have drawn seven and lost 18 on their travels at this level. While Luis Garcia Plaza's team have recently picked up a morale-boosting 1-0 win over Real Betis in the Copa del Rey, they haven't won in the league since late November, and they are just a point and a place above Sevilla in the league.
Sevilla are having an awful season, and their ageing squad needs a serious makeover, but man for man they are superior to Alaves, and Flores' experience and proven track record should come into play here.
Sevilla are an attractive price to take the win here at 2.0621/20, and with Marcos Acuna, Tanguy Nianzou and Joan Jordan set to return from injury, I'm happy to support the home side.