Two goals from Alvaro Negredo gave Sevilla a 2-1 win against Valencia in the Spanish league on Sunday as the Andalusians moved back into the Champions League spots.
The striker tapped in from Julien Escude’s knock-on from a corner in the 21st minute before lobbing Cesar Sanchez in the 70th after being fed the ball by Jesus Navas on the edge of the area.
David Navarro cut the deficit for Valencia, heading in from close range during injury time.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Earlier, goals from Sergio “Duda” Barbosa and Javier Lopez gave Malaga a 2-0 away win against a lackluster Atletico Madrid.
Duda stroked the ball home in the fourth minute, as he met right back Jesus Gamez’s cross from the flank and Lopez confirmed Malaga’s dominance with his strike from Nabil Baha’s cross in the 70th.
“The team played a horrible game from which there’s nothing to salvage and I’m sorry about it,” Atletico coach Quique Sanchez Flores said.
Frederic Kanoute pressured early on at Sevilla’s Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium and Valencia’s David Navarro did well to intercept the ball in the opening minutes before the Mali striker could take a shot.
Valencia struggled to control wingers Jesus Navas and Diego Perotti and the Andalusians dominated the first hour of the game.
With Valencia lacking fluency, their forward line rarely posed a threat. Coach Unai Emery introduced Ever Banega and Nicola Zigic on the hour, replacing Carlos Marchena and Pablo Hernandez.
At two goals down, the visitors finally started to put pressure on the Sevilla defense.
David Silva carved out a chance in the 64th, drifting away from his marker and forcing a save from Andres Palop. Minutes later, David Villa hit the post after wrongfooting defender Marius Stankevicius.
At the Calderon Stadium Atletico boss Sanchez Flores deployed several reserve team players, with a view to resting some bigger names ahead of Thursday’s Copa del Rey semi-final against Racing Santander.
The plan appeared to backfire as the home team struggled from the start and Malaga had a string of chances after Duda’s early goal.
David de Gea had to stretch to save Fernando Fernandez’s goalbound flick-on from Duda’s pass and Ecuador striker Salvador Caicedo struck the side netting after being put through by Selim Benachour.
Sanchez Flores introduced Sergio Aguero and Jose Antonio Reyes at half-time, to replace Ibrahima Balde and Ignacio Camacho.
When play resumed Aguero burst into the area with the ball before being booked for diving. The Argentina striker drew a fine save from Gustavo Munua 10 minutes from the end although he was mostly stifled by Malaga’s defense.
Xerez notched their second win of the season by beating Mallorca 2-1, while Villarreal sacked coach Ernesto Valverde following a 2-0 defeat to Osasuna.
Carlos Calvo scored both goals for Xerez, stunning goalkeeper Dudu Aouate with a long-range strike in the 52nd minute and then dribbling in from the left to slot home in the 80th.
Pierre Webo had put Mallorca ahead in the 24th with a diving header.
At Villarreal’s Madrigal Stadium, Osasuna went ahead through Juan Francisco Torres in the 15th, before sealing the win in the 85th.
Also on Sunday, relegation candidates Zaragoza beat Tenerife 3-1, Valladolid drew 1-1 with Almeria and Getafe drew 0-0 with Racing Santander.
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