Bilardo's Spirit Lives On as Sevilla Grind Out Vital Point Against Alavés
Sevilla channel their inner Bilardo with a gutsy display against Alavés, playing most of the match with 10 men in a crucial relegation battle point.
Sevilla’s dogged defensive display and never-say-die attitude harked back to the days of Carlos Bilardo, as Almeyda’s men scrapped to a valuable 1-1 draw against Alavés despite playing with 10 men for 75 minutes.
Bilardo’s Blueprint
The spirit of Carlos Salvador Bilardo - the legendary Argentine coach who left an indelible mark on Sevilla during his 1992-93 stint - was alive and well at the Sánchez-Pizjuán on Saturday. Before kick-off, the Sevilla squad paid homage to the Doctor’s famous phrase: “Los de colorado son los nuestros” (The ones in red are ours), embracing his philosophy of collective sacrifice and obsession with achieving objectives.
Almeyda, who played under Bilardo during his time at Sevilla, set up with an asymmetric 5-2-3 formation, bringing Nianzou, Sow and Juanlu into the starting XI. The plan was to shore up defensively against an Alavés side that’s been a bogey team for the Andalusians recently. However, the tactical masterplan went Pete Tong early doors.
Red Mist Descends
Both sides came into the match as LaLiga’s most fouling teams, with referee Iosu Galech - the league’s most card-happy official - in charge. The inevitable happened just 15 minutes in when Juanlu received a second yellow card, leaving Sevilla to battle with ten men for most of the match.
Rather than park the bus, Almeyda’s men continued pushing forward while maintaining their shape. The returning Nianzou impressed in his first start in three months, while Kike Salas was absolutely brilliant, making twelve clearances in a commanding performance.
Against the run of play, Sevilla grabbed the lead before half-time through Djibril Sow’s third goal of the season, sending the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán into raptures.
Backs Against the Wall
Alavés came out swinging after the break with three midfield changes that pushed Sevilla deeper and deeper. The visitors eventually levelled through Toni Martínez from a corner, exploiting a mismatch with Suazo.
Almeyda responded with tactical tweaks and fresh legs, switching to a 4-5-1 defensively that morphed into a 2-4-3 when attacking. Nigerian striker Akor Adams found himself isolated up top, fighting a lonely battle as his teammates focused on securing at least a point.
Chaos and Communion
The match descended into proper madness in the 86th minute when referee Galech showed a red card to someone on Sevilla’s bench. No one seemed to know what had happened, but Almeyda was sent off and refused to leave, prompting the whole stadium to chant his name in solidarity.
Amid the chaos, Sevilla showed the kind of determination you’d expect from a team battling relegation. They scrapped, fought and did whatever necessary to secure a precious point against a direct rival in the fight for survival.
The 1-1 draw means Sevilla now hold the head-to-head advantage over Alavés - a potentially crucial factor come the end of the season. It was Bilardismo in its purest form - not pretty, but effective. Just what the doctor ordered.