Sevilla warmed up for tomorrow’s Champions League clash against CSKA Moscow with a disappointing 1-1 home draw against Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday, failing to make up ground on third-placed Valencia.
Sevilla trail Valencia by three points after being pegged back by Depor, two points behind in sixth, after Adrian canceled out Fazio’s opener for Sevilla three minutes earlier.
CSKA Moscow are up next for Sevilla in the second leg of their last-16 Champions League tie tomorrow, with Manolo Jimenez’s side holding a slight advantage after a 1-1 draw in Russia.
PHOTO: EPA
Sevilla had been beaten 3-2 by Real Madrid last time out — throwing away a two-goal lead — so were looking for a boost and took the lead on 21 minutes when defender Fazio flicked in a driven cross from Argentine compatriot Diego Perotti.
The lead was short-lived, however, as Depor equalized three minutes later with Mexican Jose Guardado feeding a great pass for Adrian to prod home.
Perotti hit the post with another driven cross that evaded everyone and Sevilla were up in arms close to halftime when they felt Depor goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia handled outside the area to block a Jesus Navas shot.
“It hit my shoulder,” Aranzubia said. “The team are doing well, and we did well to get a point at a difficult stadium tonight and stay close to the Champions League places.”
Substitute Luis Fabiano hit the crossbar on the hour mark for Sevilla, but Depor almost went ahead themselves with Andres Palop forced into a fine point-blank save to foil Juan Dominguez.
Earlier, Champions League hopefuls Real Mallorca crashed to a 3-0 defeat at Getafe as their travel sickness struck again.
Spain under-21 international striker Daniel Parejo headed Getafe in front, before two goals in the final 10 minutes put the game to bed.
Getafe had gone close through Pedro Leon on the half-hour mark and Mallorca didn’t heed the warning, conceding two minutes later as Jaime Gavilan’s cross was headed in by former Real Madrid man Parejo.
The 20-year-old Parejo produced a perfectly-weighted pass for Getafe’s second 10 minutes from time, as substitute Miku, only on the pitch two minutes, slotted home.
It got worse for Mallorca five minutes later when Jose Nunes was sent off for a handball on the goal-line and Manu del Moral converted the penalty to complete the scoring.
Mallorca stay fifth, one point behind Sevilla, while Getafe are six points off the top six.
“Our ambitions are still intact,” Mallorca coach Gregorio Manzano said. “It was a chance to pick up more points, but it wasn’t to be and we have to turn the page against Atletico Madrid next Sunday.”
Athletic Bilbao spurned the chance to go level on points with Mallorca and are two points behind the islanders after drawing 0-0 at Sporting Gijon.
Bilbao midfielder Igor Gabilando missed a penalty on 58 minutes with goalkeeper Juan Pablo Ferreras getting down well to save.
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