Trending 
Alavés defied the odds to claim a dramatic 1-0 victory over Villarreal on Saturday, despite finishing the match with just nine men. The hard-fought win delivered a blow to Villarreal’s hopes of breaking into La Liga’s top four while boosting Alavés’ survival chances.
Manu Sánchez struck early for the hosts, giving them the lead, but Alavés were forced into an uphill battle after goalkeeper Antonio Sivera was sent off before the hour mark for handling the ball outside his area. The incident also left Sivera injured after a collision with Ayoze Pérez’s knee, and he was taken to hospital for further evaluation following his dismissal.
Villarreal, currently fifth in the league and chasing a Champions League spot, dominated possession and fired 24 shots at goal, but their wastefulness in front of goal cost them dearly, with only two of their attempts hitting the target.
Alavés faced further adversity in the closing stages as torrential rain lashed down, and they were reduced to nine men in stoppage time when Antonio Blanco received a red card for dissent in the 94th minute. Despite the numerical disadvantage, they withstood 15 tense minutes of added time to seal a vital three points.
The victory lifted Alavés to 18th place, just one point from escaping the relegation zone. It also marked their first clean sheet in 14 league matches and their first win in seven games.
Elsewhere, Valencia deepened bottom-placed Valladolid’s struggles with a 2-1 win that moved them up to 16th, one point clear of the drop zone. Earlier in the day, Celta Vigo edged past 17th-placed Leganés with a 2-1 victory.
Barcelona’s match against Osasuna was postponed following the sudden passing of the club’s first-team doctor, Carles Miñarro García, earlier in the day.
On Sunday, La Liga champions Real Madrid, currently third, will host Rayo Vallecano, while second-placed Atlético Madrid travel to Getafe as the title race continues.
