Alavés Struggles in the Andalusian Heat: A Narrow Miss at Sánchez Pizjuán

When Deportivo Alavés descended upon the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán stadium on April 20, 2025, it was less 'Game of Thrones' and more 'Game of Zones'—the dreaded relegation zone, to be precise. With the stakes higher than a dragon's flight, Alavés found themselves in a precarious 17th place, just a single point above the dreaded line of demotion. Their opponents, Sevilla, weren't exactly riding high on the dragon either, sitting 15th with 36 points, having endured a losing streak that would make even a Stark shiver.

The match was a tight affair, the kind of nail-biter that could give a manicure therapist nightmares. Sevilla, despite their recent struggles, managed to clinch a 1-0 victory, snatching the win like an elusive snitch in a high-stakes Quidditch match. For Alavés, this narrow defeat was akin to receiving socks on Christmas—disappointing, yet somehow expected.

Alavés had arrived in Seville with a glimmer of hope, having won their last three encounters against Sevilla. Yet, like a plot twist in a telenovela, the Andalusian side turned the tables, leaving Alavés fans singing the blues instead of the victory anthem. The Basque team had been hoping for back-to-back wins for the first time since November—an ambition that now seemed as distant as a galaxy far, far away.

Manager Eduardo Coudet, the Gandalf of Alavés, faced the daunting task of leading his team through the treacherous waters of La Liga's final weeks. With their home form resembling a sinking ship, having failed to win eight of their last nine home games, this away loss only compounded their woes. As the season's end looms, each match becomes a final exam, and Alavés is cramming for survival.

In the grand narrative of La Liga, this defeat keeps Alavés hovering just above the relegation abyss, like a cat precariously balanced on a fence. With the pressure mounting, the question remains: Can Coudet and his men script a comeback worthy of a Hollywood blockbuster, or will their story end in the bittersweet tones of a Shakespearean tragedy?