Sevilla pay for Rico error in Alaves draw

Sevilla goalkeeper Sergio Rico blundered and then made two brilliant late stops as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Alaves on Monday that dented their La Liga title bid.
Jorge Sampaoli's Sevilla side went ahead through Wissam Ben Yedder's drilled opener in the 23rd minute but Aleksandar Katai equalised with 15 minutes left when he bundled the ball home after Rico had spilled Oscar Romero's inswinging cross.
Sevilla captain Vicente Iborra whistled a strike over the bar as they tried to grab a late winner but Alaves came closer when Rico was forced into a spectacular save from Katai's free-kick before Deyverson's overhead follow up hit the bar.
Rico then produced another crucial intervention to deny Deyverson four minutes from time after the forward turned in the area to escape his marker and was poised to put the hosts ahead.
The result leaves third-placed Sevilla four points behind leaders Barcelona after 26 games a