Sevilla scrambled to the top of La Liga with a scrappy 1-0 win at home to Real Valladolid on Sunday, moving one point clear of champions Barcelona at the summit.
Pablo Machin’s side knew a win would take them top after Barca drew 1-1 with Atletico Madrid the previous day.
They seized an unconvincing victory thanks to a close-range header from Portuguese forward Andre Silva on the half-hour mark.
Sevilla prevailed despite the visitors’ Turkish forward Enes Unal having two goals ruled out for offside after the interval.
It also took a flying save from the hosts’ goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik to prevent Unal equalising in stoppage time on a day when the Andalusian side really rode their luck.
Sevilla now top the league with 26 points after 13 games, jumping ahead of Barca, who have 25 after snatching a draw at Atleti on Saturday night.
Atletico remain third on 24, with stuttering European champions Real Madrid sitting sixth on 20 after Saturday’s humiliating 3-0 defeat at Eibar.
Up next for Sevilla is a trip to high-flying Alaves, who are this season’s surprise package in fourth place.
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