Wissam Ben Yedder backheeled home an injury time winner as Sevilla moved joint top of La Liga in a chaotic 2-1 win over Alaves that saw four players and the referee go off injured.
Alaves’ defensive gameplan looked to have been undone when one of Sevilla’s enforced substitutes Ganso’s sensational backheel teed up Ben Yedder for the opener 17 minutes from time.
However, after referee Mateu Lahoz joined the casualty list with a calf injury, Victor Languardia bundled home a corner at the back post to level.
Ben Yedder had the final say, though, after also netting the winner against Lyon in the Champions League in midweek as he flicked home Vitolo’s low cross.
Sevilla leapfrog Atletico Madrid and Barcelona into second behind Real Madrid on goal difference.
Real host Eibar on Sunday, whilst Atletico and Barca visit Valencia and Celta Vigo respectively.
Sevilla boss Jorge Sampaoli showed his satisfaction with their showing against Lyon on Tuesday by naming an unchanged side for the first time.
Yet, it was Alaves who had the best chance of the first-half when Edgar Mendez smashed against the post with just Sergio Rico to beat in the Sevilla goal.
Kiko Femenia and Daniel Torres then limped off inside the half hour for the visitors, whilst Sevilla were dealt two huge blows at the start of the second period as Samir Nasri and Luciano Vietto had to be replaced.
However, Brazilian playmaker Ganso made his mark with a brilliant backheeled pass which freed Ben Yedder to slam the opener through Fernando Pacheco’s legs.
The game was then momentarily delayed as Lahoz had to be replaced by the fourth official.
The break in play benefited Alaves as they immediately began to put more pressure on the Sevilla goal and levelled when Languardia swept home a flick-on at the back post.
Yet, Sevilla weren’t to be denied as a powerful run and low cross from Vitolo got the finish it deserved from Ben Yedder as the game entered stoppage time.
Earlier, Granada’s winless start to the campaign continued as Alexander Szymanowski pounced on Mexican international goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa’s error to give Leganes a 1-0 win at Nuevo los Carmenes.
Granada sacked coach Paco Jemez on Wednesday and defeat takes the Andalusians to the bottom of the table on goal difference with just two points from their opening seven games.
