Sevilla rose to the top of the Spanish league with a 2-1 victory over FC Barcelona on goals by Alexander Kerzhakov and Daniel Alves on Saturday.
Ronaldinho opened the scoring for the defending champion at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium only for Sevilla to rally and boost its hopes of a first title since 1946.
Barcelona had two players sent off, and Sevilla one.
Sevilla defender Aitor Ocio was the first to go in the 29th minute for tripping Ronaldinho, leading to a penalty which Ronaldinho missed. Visiting forward Ludovic Giuly went in the 62nd, and was followed by right back Gianluca Zambrotta 14 minutes later.
Sevilla coach Juande Ramos was back in charge after being knocked unconscious by a bottle thrown from the crowd during Sevilla's Copa del Rey match at Real Betis three days earlier.
However, crowd trouble occurred again when fighting broke out among spectators behind one of the goals at halftime, leading police officers to enter the area and draw their truncheons. At least one man was led away.
Barcelona's defeat made for a poor start to a crucial week.
Coach Frank Rijkaard's team hopes to overturn a 2-1 deficit at Liverpool in the Champions League tomorrow and hosts its biggest rival Real Madrid in the league the following Saturday
In another 25th-round game, Fernando Morientes' 10th goal of the season brought Valencia a 1-0 win over struggling Celta Vigo, keeping his team in third place and in contention for a third league title in six years.
The striker performed an aerial kick to deflect a center from substitute Hugo Viana in the 67th minute and bring Valencia its 10th win of the season at its Mestalla stadium.
Sevilla leads with 50 points, while Barcelona has 49.
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