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SEVILLE: Alexis Sanchez made a decisive impact off the bench as Sevilla FC secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad in their La Liga encounter at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium on Monday.
With both teams chasing very different objectives, the contest carried significant weight, particularly for Sevilla, who entered the match under pressure following a difficult run of results.
Real Sociedad started the brighter of the two sides, enjoying more of the ball early on, but struggled to convert possession into meaningful chances.
Sevilla, meanwhile, looked more threatening in attacking phases before the break, although their efforts from distance failed to trouble goalkeeper Alex Remiro.
The visitors came close shortly after the restart when Orri Oskarsson delivered a dangerous ball into the box, only for Mikel Oyarzabal to narrowly miss connecting. That missed opportunity proved costly.
Sevilla capitalised on their first clear opening soon after, with Alexis Sanchez breaking the deadlock just five minutes after coming on as a half-time substitute. The experienced forward showed composure to finish clinically and hand the hosts a vital lead.
Sevilla nearly doubled their advantage late in the game through Lucien Agoume, but the effort was ruled out following a VAR review.
The result lifts Sevilla to 17th place in the standings, moving them just above Deportivo Alaves and out of the relegation zone, with Levante UD and Real Oviedo trailing further behind.
Despite the win, the relegation battle remains tight, with only a handful of points separating teams in the lower half of the table.
The victory also marks Sevilla’s second consecutive home win, their first such run since October 2024, offering a timely boost in their survival bid.
For Real Sociedad, the defeat represents a setback in their push for European qualification. A win would have seen them climb into the top six, but instead they remain ninth, still chasing sides like Celta Vigo, Getafe and Athletic Club.
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