We are entering uncharted territory in La Liga. We’re now more than a third of the way through the season, and neither one of the three big clubs are at the front of the pack. Instead, Sevilla are leading the way. Sevilla are up a point on defending champions Barcelona and two points up on Atletico Madrid, and they are looking to win their first La Liga title since the 1945-46 season. They will be travelling to take on another surprising team on Sunday, Deportivo Alaves. Alaves currently sits in fourth place and would qualify for the Champions League if the season were to end today.
Don't miss the Spanish La Liga action from the Mendizorroza in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain at 2:45 p.m. ET on Sunday, December 2, 2018. Catch every moment of the match live on beIN Sports.
Spanish La Liga Betting at BookMaker.eu
Sevilla -103
Alaves +262
Draw +262
Over/Under 2.5 and 3
Odds Analysis
Alaves have not spent much time in the top tier of Spanish football. This is just their 14th season playing in La Liga, and their third in a row since winning promotion in 2016. The Babazorros have yet to finish in the top five of the league, and if they happened to do so this year, it would send supporters of the Basque club into jubilee. Alaves have scored some big wins this year, knocking off Real Madrid, Villarreal, and Espanyol at home already, and they are unbeaten in the Mendizorroza this season with a 4-2-0 record at home.
Sevilla have been at or near the top of the table through the first three-plus months of the La Liga campaign. The White and Reds struggled mightily all throughout last year, but some new additions have sparked the team and they have played inspired football. They are 3-1-0 since losing to Barcelona in Camp Nou in mid-October, and their win over Real Valladolid last weekend propelled them back in front of the Blaugrana.
Emphasis on another competition may ding Sevilla ahead of this match. Sevilla need a win in Belgium over Standard Liege on Thursday in order to ensure qualification for the next round of the Europa League. Anything else means they will need a result against Russian side Krasnodar in three weeks’ time to advance.
Injury Report
Prior to the start of the season, Alaves lost Rodrigo Ely until late in the campaign after he tore a ligament in his knee. He is out for another three months at the very least. Other than Ely, Alaves could have their full side to choose from though. Tomas Pina is questionable to play with a thigh injury, while Ximo Navarro is probable after suffering a concussion a few weeks ago.
Unfortunately for Sevilla, they will be without one of their starters for three months. Maxime Gonalons came over on a loan from Roma this season to beef up the midfield, and he had been playing well. He broke his ankle in training two weeks ago though, and he will be out until late February. Jesus Navas is questionable with a calf injury.
Player to Watch
Another player coming over from an Italian team on loan has helped bring in a huge change at Sevilla. Andre Silva has been a treat for Sevilla since joining at the start of the year, and he is back to his scoring ways. He started the season with seven goals in seven matches, but he failed to score in four straight prior to tallying the game’s loan goal against Real Valladolid last weekend. He is not afraid to fire away on net, and he has been rewarded for it often.
La Liga Prop Bet – Alaves Last Goal +131
Fatigue will be a factor later on in the game as Sevilla will have less than 72 hours rest prior to this one, while Alaves don’t have any fixtures in the middle of the week. Sevilla are not that deep in terms of talent and the lack of fresh legs will cost them a goal late.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
I like the value in Alaves here. They are playing at home, on extra rest, and they have yet to lose here. I’ll take them as a decent underdog on the three-way line.
Spanish La Liga Odds: Alaves 2, Sevilla 1
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