VITORIA-GASTEIZ, Spain, Dec 2 (Reuters) – Sevilla slipped off the top of La Liga on Sunday as they could only draw 1-1 at Alaves, whose comfortable protection of their unbeaten home record allowed champions Barcelona to climb back to the league’s summit.
Alaves’ winger Jony slammed the ball into the roof of the net from close range to give them the lead in the 37th minute, despite protests from Sevilla that Jonathan Calleri was in an offside position when he provided the cross for the goal.
Home goalkeeper Fernando Pacheco made a fine save to prevent Franco Vazquez equalising soon after the break but could not stop Wissam Ben Yedder’s 78th minute equaliser, as the Frenchman nipped in behind the defence to turn in Pablo Sarabia’s cross.
It meant Alaves, who beat European champions Real Madrid 1-0 at their Mendizorrotza stadium earlier in the campaign, and Atletico Madrid remain the only teams yet to lose at home in the league this season.
The Basque side resisted Sevilla’s attempts to grab a late winner with some ease and almost won themselves when Darko Brasanac headed against the post and keeper Tomas Vaclik nearly pushed the ball over the line before finally grabbing hold.
Sevilla slid down to second place in the standings on 27 points after 14 games, one behind leaders Barca. Atletico Madrid are third on 25, while Alaves are fourth with 24, one point above fifth-placed Real Madrid. (Reporting by Richard Martin Editing by Ian Chadband)
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