Sevilla beat Barca to take top spot

PLAYING CATCH-UP: Barcelona slumped to second place in the Spanish League just before their Champions League clash.

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New Delhi: Sevilla returned to the top of the Spanish Primera division with a 2-1 win over champions Barcelona that saw three players sent off, as Real Madrid failed to capitalise on Barca's fall.

Sevilla and Barcelona have been neck and neck at the top of La Liga for much of the season, and with Barca's recent form going through severe ups and downs.

Sevilla must have been savouring this encounter. But it was the Catalan club which scored first, with Gianluca Zambrotta pulling a cross back at the last moment while Ronaldinho, completely unmarked, headed in.

The Brazilian playmaker was hauled down in the box fifteen minutes later, and defender Aitor was red-carded. But Ronaldinho failed to convert as Sevilla keeper Andres Pelop came up with a great save.

And then, without warning, Barcelona's game fell apart. In the 38th minute, Daniel Alves slipped through a perfect pass to Kerzhakov to turn brilliantly and slot it in.

Daniel Alves hammered the nail in Barca's coffin in the second half with a curling free-kick to give 10-man Sevilla the lead. Things got worse for Barcelona as both Ludovic Giuly and Zambrotta were sent off within ten minutes of each other. Sevilla are now firmly on top of the table.

Real Madrid hosted city rivals Getafe at the Bernabeu, but failed to catch up with Barcelona. Madrid started brightly, some fluid passing for Robinho to shoot at the goal. But Getafe goalie Roberto Abbondenzieri was up to the task.

Madrid went close again just after the half-hour mark when Jose Antonio Reyes nudged the ball past Abbondanzieri, but it was frantic goalmouth work kept that ball out.

Madrid's good work was undone in the 37th minute when striker Guiza charged past a static defence to give Getafe a 1-0 lead. Madrid continued pushing forward, a searching Beckham cross hit first-time by Robinho, but again Getafe pulled-off a save.

Madrid got a penalty and Ruud van Nistelrooy stepped up to restore parity. The derby finished with honours even.

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