Real go top in Spain after Sevilla beat Atletico

Real Madrid took the top spot in the Spanish Primera Liga with a slightly fortunate 2-1 win at home over an injury-hit Athletic Club Bilbao.

Madrid took the lead in the seventh minute on Sunday against the Basque side, who were without five first team regulars, after Karim Benzema stroked home a pass from the right, reports Xinhua.

Sabin Merino equalised for Athletic in the 27th minute after good work from Inigo Lekue and the game could have gone either way in the second half.

Alvaro Morata won the game for Madrid with a dose of fortune in the 84th minute, before Inaki Williams missed a great chance to equalise two minutes later when he failed to get enough weight behind a chip with Keylor Navas out of his ground.

Atletico Madrid's reign at the top of the table came to an end after just two weeks in Sevilla's Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium.

A Steven N'Zonzi goal just over 15 minutes from time decided a hard-fought and tactical game in which Sevilla were the better side in the second half and moved up to second.

Atletico ended with 10 men after Koke was sent off for a slightly rigorous second yellow card and slipped to fifth in the table after Villarreal's 2-1 win at home to Las Palmas.

It was a late show for Villarreal, who fell behind to Kevin Boateng's fine goal on the half hour. It was not until the 61st minute that Sansone's penalty drew them level and Cedric Bakambu won the game against Las Palmas for the home side in the 92nd minute.

Local boy Iago Ases scored twice as Celta Vigo won the Galician derby 4-1 at home to Deportivo la Coruna.

Hugo Mallo opened the scoring from a narrow angle to put Celta ahead only for Raul Albentosa to head the equaliser from a set piece.

A controversial penalty on the hour allowed Iago Aspes to put Celta back in front and with Deportivo committing men forward, Fabian Orellana and Aspes scoring further goals on the break to seal the win.

Malaga produced their best performance of the season to defeat Leganes 4-0 with goals from Jonathan Rodriguez, Chori Castro, Sandro and Ignacio Camacho.

--IANS

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