Madrid, Feb. 1: Sevilla breathed new life into their Champions League ambitions with a 2-1 victory over fellow European hopefuls Valencia on Sunday with Alvaro Negredo grabbing both goals. It was a key game for Sevilla who had suffered a worrying slump since Christmas, losing three of their last four games but they rose to the occasion against third-placed Valencia.
Sevilla took the game to the visitors and were a constant threat down the right-wing while Alexis Ruano struggled in defence. From a 22nd-minute corner Sevilla went ahead as Julien Escude flicked on the ball for Negredo to slot home. Midway through the second half Negredo finished off a well-worked move for Sevilla’s second, and his seventh of the season.
Valencia battled gamely in the later stages with top-scorer David Villa conjuring up a couple of chances before David Navarro scored a consolation goal in injury time. The result moved Sevilla up to fourth place on 36 points, three behind Valencia in third.
Barcelona still lead the table with 52 points, five ahead of rivals Real Madrid.
Villarreal sacked coach Ernesto Valverde following the club’s 2-0 defeat at home to Osasuna. Valverde, who previously coached Espanyol and Greek side Olympiakos, is the sixth La Liga coach to lose his job this season Juanfran Torres scored both Osasuna’s goals.
"This was the worst since I have been here. We lost and played really badly," said Valverde after Sunday’s loss.
Atletico Madrid coach Quique Sanchez is another man under pressure after his side crashed 2-0 at home against relegation-threatened Malaga.
Malaga took an early lead with an unmarked Sergio Duda firing home after just three minutes. — AFP
Tim Hanlon