Sevilla: Sevilla beat bottom placed Sporting Gijon 2-1 at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan to send them fourth in La Liga, a point behind Real Madrid.
Manu opened the scoring after 15 minutes with a wonder goal, then Martin Caceres doubled Sevilla's lead after heading into an empty net early in the second half. Sporting got themselves back into it through David Barral just a few minutes later, but couldn't find that crucial second that would have given them just their second point of the season.
The opening goal came out of nothing. Neither team had created anything of note when on 15 minutes Manu picked up the ball for Sevilla about 30 yards from goal. He jinked inside and unleashed a brilliant shot right into the top corner, leaving Juan Pablo rooted to the spot.
Sporting Gijon began to take control of the game following the goal and could have equalised on half an hour as Oscar Trejo got his head on a corner at the back post. He headed down firmly, but Javi Varas parried wide.
Sporting's best chance of the half though came just before the interval. Alberto Lora whipped in a fantastic first time cross that split defence and goalkeeper. Nacho Cases beat Varas to the ball, but hit over the bar from six yards.
Sevilla grabbed their second from a set piece 10 minutes into the second half. The substitute Ivan Rakitic swept in a freekick, which Julien Escude nodded on to the bar. The ball bounced off the floor and Caceres was the first to react to head into the empty net.
Just seven minutes later though Sporting were back in it. The impressive Trejo drove towards the box and put through a cute ball for Angel De Las Cuevas who unselfishly laid across goal for Barral to put into an empty net.
Sporting had a golden chance in the 90th minute as mass confusion in the Sevilla box led to the ball bouncing in front of Alberto Botia. He swivelled on the spot and hit a powerful effort inches wide to the despair of Sporting manager Manuel Preciado.
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