Alexis Sanchez strikes off bench to lift Sevilla out of relegation zone with 1-0 win over Real Sociedad

Key facts

• Sevilla beat Real Sociedad 1-0 at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán stadium on May 4, 2026.
• Alexis Sanchez scored the winning goal five minutes into the second half after coming on as a half-time substitute.
• Sevilla climbed out of the relegation zone to 17th place with 37 points, one point above Alaves.
• Real Sociedad remain 9th with 43 points, having not won in La Liga for over a month.
• Sevilla had lost five of their previous six league matches before this victory.
• Gabriel Suazo was named Man of the Match for his performance.
• Real Sociedad won the Copa del Rey two weeks ago at the same stadium in Seville.

A lifeline in Seville

Sevilla hauled themselves out of the La Liga relegation zone with four games to play as Alexis Sanchez came off the bench to score the winning goal in a crucial 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán stadium. The result, which concluded the 34th round of the championship, lifted Los Nervionenses to 17th place with 37 points, one point clear of the drop zone at the expense of Alaves. For a club that had suffered five defeats in its previous six league outings, the win was a reprieve from what had become the most challenging period in recent years.

How the match unfolded

Knowing a fast start was essential, Sevilla dominated the opening half-hour. Chidera Ejuke saw a low effort smartly saved by Alex Remiro, while Andres Castrin and Nemanja Gudelj also went close. Real Sociedad, who had managed only three away league wins all season, remained on the back foot. Despite their pressure, Sevilla could not find the breakthrough before half-time: Neal Maupay volleyed wastefully wide from close range, and Ejuke fired over after a great run into the box. The hosts took a deserved lead within five minutes of the restart when half-time substitute Sanchez powered a clinical strike into the far corner after good work by Maupay.

VAR drama and a late Sociedad push

Sevilla thought they had doubled their lead in the 80th minute when Lucien Agoume coolly converted in the box, but the goal was ruled out by VAR for offside. Grateful for that reprieve, Real Sociedad pushed for a late equalizer, but Pellegrino Matarazzo's men could not breach the hosts' rearguard. Sevilla secured just their second La Liga win in nine matches, having drawn two and lost five in that span. The clean sheet was a testament to a disciplined defensive performance, with Gabriel Suazo earning the Man of the Match award.

Squad struggles and key absences

Sevilla were without Sow and Manu Bueno due to injury, but benefited from the return of Azpilicueta. Swiss winger Ruben Vargas, despite his own fitness concerns, was deployed for his set-piece ability. Real Sociedad, meanwhile, were missing Guedes, Zubeldia, Odriozola, and Rupérez. Their main hope was captain Mikel Oyarzabal, who had scored twice in the previous round and boasted 17 goals for the season. Both teams faced tests of resilience with limited rosters, but Sevilla's depth proved decisive when Sanchez entered the fray.

Context and regional significance

The match carried extra weight for Andalusia, where football generates intense public interest. Real Sociedad arrived in Seville having celebrated their fourth Copa del Rey title at the same stadium just two weeks earlier. That triumph, however, had not translated into league form: the visitors had not won in La Liga for over a month. For Sevilla, the victory was a step toward survival in a season that had seen them flirt with relegation, a fate the club has rarely faced in its modern history. With four matches left, the margin for error remains razor-thin.

The road ahead

Sevilla's win moves them out of the bottom three, but their position is precarious. They hold a one-point advantage over Alaves, who occupy 18th place, with four games remaining. Real Sociedad, safely mid-table with 43 points, will look to end their winless league run and build on their Copa del Rey success. For Sevilla, the immediate challenge is to maintain momentum and avoid the defensive lapses that have plagued them. The return of key players like Azpilicueta and the emergence of Sanchez as a clutch substitute offer hope, but the club's fate will be decided in the coming weeks.

The bottom line

• Sevilla's 1-0 win over Real Sociedad lifted them out of the relegation zone to 17th place with 37 points, one above Alaves.
• Alexis Sanchez scored the winner five minutes into the second half after coming on as a half-time substitute.
• Sevilla had lost five of their previous six league matches before this victory.
• Real Sociedad, despite winning the Copa del Rey two weeks earlier, have not won in La Liga for over a month and remain 9th with 43 points.
• Gabriel Suazo was named Man of the Match for his defensive performance.
• With four games left, Sevilla's survival is far from assured; they hold a one-point lead over the relegation zone.