SPANISH PRIMERA LIGA:REAL MADRID climbed back above arch-rivals Barcelona to the top of La Liga when Gonzalo Higuain netted a late winner in a 1-0 win at Sporting Gijon last night.

Champions Barca had gone two clear with a 3-1 home win over third-placed Villarreal on Saturday and Jose Mourinho’s unbeaten Real side struggled to find a goal against a determined Gijon whose goalkeeper Juan Pablo was in inspired form.

Argentina forward Higuain came close to finding the net in the 10th minute at the Molinon when his angled shot bounced back off a goal post.

Pablo produced three superb saves in the second half but it was his handling error that led to Real’s goal in the 82nd minute.

He saved a headed effort from substitute Karim Benzema but palmed the ball straight to Higuain who gleefully tapped the ball over the line from close range.

Gijon nearly equalised a minute later but Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas flung himself full length to superbly parry a powerful downward header from David Barral.

Alberto Botia was shown a straight red card in the fourth minute of added time for a late challenge on Real’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo.

Real have 29 points from 11 matches, with Barca, who host Real for the first of the season’s two “Classicos” on November 29th, on 28 and Villarreal on 23.

Touchline tension had mounted between Real and Gijon in the build-up to the match after Real coach Jose Mourinho incensed his counterpart Manuel Preciado by suggesting they did not make a serious attempt to beat Barca earlier in the season. Preciado, whose side lost 1-0 at Camp Nou in September, was furious at what he described as a lack of respect.

Alvaro Negredo came off the bench to score a last-gasp winner as Sevilla survived the dismissal of Fernando Navarro to snatch a 2-1 victory at struggling Real Zaragoza. Luis Fabiano fired the Andalusians ahead in the 29th minute at the Romareda before Nico Bertolo nodded the home side level just after half-time.

Defender Navarro was shown a straight red in the 72nd minute after hauling down Braulio when he was through on goal but Negredo’s winner sealed the points.

Manuel Pellegrini won on his league debut as Malaga coach. They defeated visiting Levante 1-0.