Sevilla take top spot

Spain: Sevilla knocked Barcelona off the top of the Primera Liga yesterday after goals from Frederic Kanoute and Adriano Correia…

Spain: Sevilla knocked Barcelona off the top of the Primera Liga yesterday after goals from Frederic Kanoute and Adriano Correia gave them a 2-0 home win over Osasuna. The Uefa Cup holders have 21 points, one ahead of Barcelona who were held to a 1-1 draw at Deportivo Coruna on Saturday.

Real Zaragoza climbed to third on 19 points with a 3-1 home win over Getafe, and Real Madrid slipped down to fourth with 17 after losing 2-1 at home to Celta Vigo.

Sevilla were set on course for their fifth straight home win in the league when Mali striker Kanoute scored from the penalty spot early in the second half, taking his tally for the season to eight.

Two minutes from time Kanoute fed Brazilian midfielder Adriano to finish off a swift counter-attack that made sure of the win.

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Real Zaragoza moved to within two points of the leaders with their victory over 10-man Getafe. Bernd Schuster's side lost defender Ruben Pulido to a red card after just 11 minutes but managed to level after Uruguayan Carlos Diogo had put Zaragoza in front.

However, second-half strikes from Argentinian Diego Milito and Brazilian Ewerthon sealed the win for Zaragoza.

Below them Real Madrid failed to capitalise on Barcelona's slip-up as they suffered their first defeat of the season in the Bernabeu.

Fifth-placed Valencia also failed to take advantage of Real's slip-up when only drawing 1-1 away to Espanyol last night.