Real Madrid moved into second place behind Barcelona in the
Spanish title race after an inspired Guti steered them to a 3-2
comeback win over Sevilla in a high-tension clash at the Bernabeu
on Sunday.
Sevilla took the lead when Italian midfielder Enzo Maresca
cracked home a stunning volley four minutes before the break, but
with his team seemingly in trouble coach Fabio Capello threw on
Guti in place of skipper Raul.
The playmaker then provided three pin-point passes to set up
three goals in the space of 24 minutes, two for leading striker
Ruud van Nistelrooy and one for Brazilian forward Robinho.
With five games left to play, the win catapulted Real into
second spot in the table, two points behind champions Barcelona who
claimed a 2-0 win away to Real Sociedad on Saturday.
UEFA Cup finalists Sevilla drop to third spot, a further two
points behind Real and two ahead of Valencia who beat Deportivo
Coruna 2-1 on Saturday.
"This result makes us keener than ever to win the title race,"
said Real's sporting director Predrag Mijatovic. "We are playing
very well at this crucial stage of the season and though it won't
be easy I'm sure we can pull back the two points."
Real, with a rejuvenated Emerson at the helm, made a confident
start at a packed Bernabeu as they gave Sevilla several scares in
the opening minutes.
But Sevilla, who had energy-sapping semifinal victory over
Osasuna on Wednesday, gradually found their rhythm and grabbed the
lead four minutes before the break with a wonderfully struck
dipping volley from Maresca.
The Italian turned and cracked the ball beyond the reach of the
despairing Iker Casillas from the edge of the area after Frederic
Kanoute had nodded a Daniel Alves free kick into his path.
Instant impact
Capello sent on playmaker Guti 15 minutes into the second half
in the hope of giving his side more control of the ball and the
midfielder had an instant impact on the game.
With almost his first intervention Guti surged up the middle,
threaded a perfect pass into the path of Van Nistelrooy who rounded
Palop and then turned the ball into the net with his right
foot.
Sevilla fullback Daniel Alves missed two great chances to
restore his side's lead, but it was Real who went in front after
another timely intervention from Guti.
This time he slipped a pass through the Sevilla defence for
Robinho and the Brazilian finished off coolly past keeper Andres
Palop although he was sent off after picking up a second booking
for taking off his shirt as he celebrated.
Sevilla suffered another blow when they too were reduced to 10
men, defender Aitor Ocio receiving his marching orders for tussling
with Diarra in the area and Guti soon took advantage to set up
Real's third goal.
This time he caught Sevilla out when clipped the ball wide out
to the right for defender Sergio Ramos whose shot was blocked by
Palop but van Nistelrooy was on hand to head in from point blank
range to take his tally for the season to 20 goals.
Sevilla substitute Ernesto Chevanton cracked home a free kick
from the edge of the area deep in injury time but it came too late
to influence the result.
(China Daily via Agencies May 8, 2007)