Ben Yedder del Sevilla FC ante el Deportivo Alavés
Match reports

1-0: THREE POINTS TO SAY GOODBYE TO JOAQUÍN CAPARROS

19/05/2018
Sevilla closed out the 2017/18 season by making it 10 points in 12 under Joaquín Caparrós. Ben Yedder would score the only goal in a win against Deportivo Alavés, which would see academy youngster José Alonso Lara make his first team debut to round off affairs

As if as a metaphor for the side's league campaign, Sevilla FC got the job done under relentless rain this Saturday evening in the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán - thankfully having already secured European football the week before when drawing away at Real Betis. With the obligation of putting on a show for the 22,000 fans who came out to watch in the stormy weather, Sevilla saw off Alavés with a goal from season top-scorer Wissam Ben Yedder, saying goodbye to Joaquín Caparrós with three points. In his own style, the legendary coach spent ninety minutes shouting instructions and encouragement to his players - getting soaked in the process, before giving a first-team debut to José Alonso Lara with ten minutes to go. 

With nothing other to play for than putting together as many points as possible, Sevilla played under Joaquín Caparrós for the last time, in the manager's words "indebted to the fans" and looking to end the season on a positive note. Though the rain poured down relentlessly, a vocal Nervión faithful pushed Sevilla to dominate in the early going, setting up camp in Alavés' half. And it wouldn't take long for Sevilla to start creating dangerous chances. Sandro would have two efforts in quick succession but see both go wide, and Sarabia would follow up with a direct free-kick that Pacheco would just do enough to keep out. Alavés would respond - Sobrino hitting the post just after quarter of an hour had passed. 

Sevilla would start brightly and would not take long to start creating chances

Sandro would show his eagerness to thank the fans for his stay at the Sánchez-Pizjuán when continuing to threaten as the first-half ticked on. Finding space in the opposition box, he'd fail to find the connection needed to direct a header at goal. His teammates didn't take long to make up for the missed chance and just before half an hour had passed, Wissam Ben Yedder found the first and only goal of the game to extend his goalscoring tally for the season. Working hard to rob the ball of the Alavés defence close to the opposition box, Ben Yedder would pass to Vázquez, who with all the composure in the world, would refind the Frenchman free in the box. A simple finish for the poacher. Having deserved to break the deadlock, Sevilla would see out the half professionally - denying Alavés of real chances to threaten David Soria. Ben Yedder and Vázquez would have chances to extend the deficit before the break came, but in control, one goal would be enough to end the first-half.

The pattern of the game would not change much come the restart, with Sevilla still comfortable in possession. Ten minutes into the second-half Nolito would be the man to threaten the Alavés goal - dragging a strike inches wide after a fast counterattacking move. His chance would be followed up by an unusual change in affairs, with the referee being replaced by the 4th official after picking up an injury in his thigh. Ibai Gómez would then threaten for the visitors, drawing a fantastic save out of David Soria from a dangerous direct free-kick. 

The tempo slowed down in the second-half, though a debuting Lara would lift the side

Sevillistas around the stadium now awaited the debuts of academy youngsters and they would soon be given their wish. Beforehand, however, Sandro - having left all his energy on the pitch - would be replaced by Luis Muriel in Sevilla's second substitution. The Colombian would inject pace and have his own chances to score but it would be the debut of José Angel Lara which would truly lift the Sánchez-Pizjuán with ten minutes to go. Showing good touches, creating chances and drawing a yellow card from Alavés, Lara would make a good impression. With the team back on the front foot after a lull in the second-half, the Nervionenses would eventually see two goals disallowed - first from Vázquez and then Ben Yedder - before time was up. With the side defending well, Alavés would never look like equalising, and three points were assured. 

The minimum that was expected before the curtain closed on another La Liga season: three points and a respectable showing at home. Saying goodbye to Joaquín Caparrós who has excelled in his second spell in charge (picking up 10 out of 12 points against difficult opposition), Sevilla now prepare another season of European and domestic football.