Sevilla 2 - Alavés 0

Sevilla: Palop; Daniel Alves, Javi Navarro, Aitor Ocio (Alfaro 83'), David; Jesús Navas, Renato, Maresca, Adriano; Luis Fabiano (Kanouté 61'), Saviola. 4-4-2.
Alavés: Costanzo; Gaspar, Juanito, Pellegrini, Coromina; Astudillo, Wesley (Lacen 75'), Carpintero, Nené; Aloisi, Bodipo (Antchouet 77'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Sevilla: Renato, Luis Fabiano for Martí, Kanouté / Alavés: Aloisi for Rubén Navarro.

Goals:
1-0. 27. Adriano. Picked up pass from Maresca to shoot past Costanzo.
2-0. 69. Maresca (penalty). After referee ruled that keeper had fouled Saviola.

Sevilla celebrated their first match at the Sánchez Pizjuán since completing 100th anniversary with a 2-0 win over Alavés. There was a festival atmosphere in the ground, with some 37,700 flags distributed to supporters before the game. But the visitors were not to be overawed, and having lost to Eibar in the cup midweek Chuchi Cos put out a line up designed to close the gaps in defence and ensure his side did not let in goals. For half an hour or so Sevilla came up against a brick wall, but a ball in by Maresca was touched on by Luis Fabiano for Adriano to make the breakthrough.

The goal forced the visitors to come forward, and Jesús Navas and Saviola went close shortly after the restart as spaces opened up. Aloisi and Wesley both tried their luck at the other end though, and Palop did well to turn a tricky shot from Wesley over the bar. But a minute later play went up the other end, and Saviola won his side a penalty when he fell under a challenge from Costanzo. Maresca converted the resulting kick, and Sevilla were on their way to victory. Nené did come close to pulling a goal back when he hit the bar with a free kick late on, but it was already too late and the Vitoria based side will have to spend another few days down in the relegation zone.