Sevilla had the chances and a penalty, but Alaves held out

Sevilla 0-0 Alaves: the hosts created more than usual, but a missed penalty left the game goalless.

Rubén Vargas had a penalty for Sevilla in the 32nd minute and missed it. Nothing else in the match was as decisive, and it explains why the side that created the better chances went home from the Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán without a goal.

Expected goals, a measure that gives each shot a value based on how often shots like it tend to go in, put Sevilla at 1.61 for the evening. That is well above their own usual figure of 1.2, and above the league average of 1.32 per side. In plain terms, they made better chances than they usually do, and those chances did not become goals.

The ball was theirs too. Sevilla had 60% possession, where their usual share is 42.2%, and they took 13 shots against their usual 11.5. Only three of those were on target, which is the gap between the chances they made and the scoreboard. Alaves had 40% of the ball, a touch below their usual 42.3%, and managed nine shots against a usual 12.2.

Alaves' attacking output fell well short of their normal level. Their expected goals came to 0.6, against a usual 1.29 and a league figure of 1.32, so they created less than they typically do. Two of their efforts were on target, and Sivera made two saves to keep the visitors level. They also collected three yellow cards to Sevilla's one, which tells you the afternoon was physical in the middle of the park.

The home side's problem was getting the ball into dangerous places, and the numbers show it in another way. Eight of Sevilla's shots came from inside the penalty area, where the best chances tend to come from, and they completed 288 of their 383 passes, so the ball moved through their side more freely than it did for Alaves, who completed 153 of 255. Vlachodimos made two saves at the other end, and his work was the reason the scoreboard stayed blank for as long as it did.

The player who stood out for Sevilla was G. Suazo, who finished with a rating of 7.4 after winning nine individual duels and making four interventions to break up Alaves' play. Alaves' N. Valentini had a useful evening too, with two shots and nine duels won, although neither of his efforts found the net. Neither side profited from the open spaces, and the goalless result is far below what a league that averages three goals a game usually produces.

Sevilla remain sixth in the table with 17 points from 11 matches, while Alaves sit 11th with 12 points from the same number of games.

Player of the matchG. Suazo1 chance created7.4

V. Koski4 duels won7.0

Sivera2 saves6.9

Guevara1 duels won6.9