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Sevilla stay in touch with Barca

Sevilla kept in touch with league leaders Barcelona after a hard-fought 2-0 win over struggling Celta Vigo on Sunday, although they remain in second place in La Liga on goal difference.

The leading pair in the Spanish first division both have 53 points from 27 games after Barca thrashed Recreativo Huelva 4-0 on Saturday.

Second half goals from the Sevilla striker force of Fredi Kanoute and Aleksander Kerzhakov, the first from the penalty spot and the latter three minutes into injury time, secured three points for the Andalusians.

Kanoute got his 19th goal of the season, and consolidated his position as the Spanish first division's leading scorer, after Gustavo Lopez had handled the ball in the area.

Kerzakakov scored in the dying seconds to ensure there were no last gasp shocks by Celta.

Celta, who are just one place and one point above the relegation zone, were down to 10 men for the final 17 minutes after Nestor Canobbio had kicked Jesus Navas in the face with a wild and very high challenge.

Real Madrid moved up to third with a 2-0 win over Gimnastic Tarragona but are five points behind the leading pair.

Gimnastic were down to 10 men after just seven minutes when defender Cesar Navas was harshly sent off after having been adjudged to have fouled Ruud van Nistelrooy.

However, Real's wastefulness in front of goal meant that they had to wait until 11 minutes after the break before Robinho broke the deadlock.

David Garcia unluckily headed into his own goal nine minutes before the end to give Real a comfortable advantage in the end although it was a far from convincing display from the 29-time Spanish champions.

Valencia slipped back a place to fourth after they were surprisingly beaten 2-0 at home by Racing Santander on Saturday.

Real Zaragoza remain fifth but maintained their hopes of playing in the Champions League for the first time by battling their way to a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

"We worked hard, our play wasn't inspired or particularly pretty but we did beat a good side," Zaragoza coach Victor Fernandez said.

Diego Milito got the only goal of the game, his 17th of the season, after 20 minutes to give Zaragoza the perfect birthday present as the club celebrated its 75th anniversary.

At the other end of the table, bottom club Real Sociedad's got a valuable point with a 1-1 draw at Villarreal but still face the real prospect of playing in the Spanish second division next season for the first time in 40 years.

Savio put Sociedad ahead after 40 minutes when a loose ball fell to the former Brazilian international whose right foot shot found the target from 10m.

Josico Moreno saved Villarreal's blushes with a 58th minute equalizer, heading home a Marcos Garcia corner.

Antonio Barragan showed again that he is one of the brightest Spanish prospects for the future when he got the winner in Deportivo La Coruna's 1-0 win over Getafe.

The 19 year-old wing back, a likely star of the Under-20 World Cup this summer, sent his low shot from the edge of the area past Getafe keeper Pato Abbondanzieri.
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