Sevilla close in the gap

Sevilla close in the gap

Sevilla scored late in each half to see off struggling Xerez in an intense Andalusian derby on Saturday night to return to winning ways and move to within just four points of league leaders Barcelona, who were held to a draw at Osasuna.

Sevilla surprisingly lost at Deportivo La Coruna two weekends ago and then failed to beat 10-man Espanyol at home last weekend.

But they were always the favourites to win this match against a Xerez side with only five points to their name from the first eight rounds of the championship.

The promoted side had only scored in two of those matches and missed chances again in this clash.

And they were given a lesson in finishing by a clinical Sevilla side, who took the points thanks to goals from Alvaro Negredo and Luis Fabiano late in each half.

There was little to choose between the two sides early on, but the difference in front of goal was all too evident as the game wore on.

Xerez's Mali midfielder Sidi Keita failed to make contact from a decent position as Sevilla goalkeeper Javi Varas came racing off his line halfway through the first period.

At the other end, Sevilla looked much more dangerous and Negredo saw his powerful free-kick well saved by Renan just short of the half-hour mark.

The home side should have gone ahead 10 minutes before the break, but Venezuela striker Giancarlo Maldonado was badly off target with a header from close-range when he looked certain to score.

Sevilla duly punished that mistake as Negredo, who moments earlier had seen a shot deflected just over the bar, fooled his marker with a clever piece of control and headed the ball over a badly-positioned Renan to give the visitors the lead.

Manolo Jimenez's men had been well below their best, but that extra quality up front proved vital and they went in a goal up at the break.

Soon afterwards, Negredo almost scored again, but this time saw his free-kick deflected wide of the target.

Xerez had their moments too, though, and the home side almost equalised after 62 minutes, when Francis saw his shot sail wide after deflecting off Sebastien Squillaci.

The home side were lacking a cutting edge in attack and were unable to make the most of a good spell of possession after that.

They almost got the breakthrough with five minutes left, but Javi Varas saved acrobatically from Leandro Gioda.

Before that, Jesus Navas saw his effort from the edge of the box well saved by Renan.

And the visitors piled on the pressure in the closing minutes.

Aldo Duscher fired over from close-range with two minutes left, but Luis Fabiano sealed what was, in the end, a comfortable win for the visitors when he latched onto Navas' pass and beat Renan with a clinical angled drive.

Sevilla stay third, but move to within just four points of leaders Barcelona, while Xerez will find themselves bottom if Malaga get any sort of result at home to Valencia on Sunday.