The feel-good factor has been in short supply at the Mendizorrotza following a sobering run of recent form that left Eduardo Coudet’s men sitting inside the bottom three ahead of kick-off.
They faced a Betis side that had lost just once on the road all season, but started brilliantly here after taking a third-minute lead.
Carlos Vicente showed some admirable persistence down the right, linking up with Lucas Boye before firing a first-time finish past Antonio Sivera.
A Verdiblancos side depleted by injuries searched for a response, as the lively Cedric Bakambu forced Pau López into action down the other end.
However, the hosts always carried a threat, and Jonny Otto should have done better when firing wide after being played through by Toni Martinez.
Betis then thought they had a chance to equalise from the penalty spot when Abde Ezzalzouli went down following a collision with Nahuel Tenaglia, but VAR rightly overturned the call in an evenly-contested first half.
El Glorioso doubled their lead within two minutes of the restart thanks to Toni Martinez, who met a Pablo Ibanez delivery with a header that Lopez could only parry onto the post before nestling in the back of the net.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side were a shadow of their usual selves, and Pablo Ibanez looked to make them pay with a shot from distance, which was gathered by Lopez.
Betis desperately needed a response from somewhere, and substitute Chimy Avila looked to oblige with a free-kick that was subsequently diverted over the bar by Jon Pacheco.
The Argentine would have an even better chance when a looping shot fell into his path, but he failed to make a decent connection with the ball from deep inside the box.
Abde did manage to halve the deficit in stoppage time, poking the ball past Antonio Sivera at his near post, but ultimately, this was a thoroughly disappointing evening for Pellegrini’s side in the Basque Country.
They make the long journey south back to Andalusia after succumbing to only a second away league defeat of the season, keeping them nine points adrift of the top four.
Meanwhile, these three crucial points for Alaves lift Coudet’s side out of the relegation zone and into 15th, having now lost only two of their previous 10 competitive games at the Mendizorrotza (W6, D2).
Flashscore Man of the Match: Toni Martinez (Alaves)