Real Madrid 1–1 Gestafe

Sevilla leapfrogged Barcelona to go top of the Primera Liga on Saturday after a brilliant comeback for a 2-1 victory in their top-of-the-table clash with the European champions at the Sanchez Pizjuan.

The Andalusians went a goal down and then a man down against the Catalan outfit - Aitor Ocio the player dismissed - but produced a stunning revival to displace the Spanish champions at the summit after 25 matches.

Ronaldinho put Barcelona ahead early on, but goals from Russian striker Aleksander Kerzakhov and Brazilian fullback Daniel Alves gave Sevilla a precious victory which could prove crucial in the title run-in.

The Catalans losy their lead at the top of the Primera Liga to the Andalusians, who now hold a one-point advantage with 13 games remaining.

Barca finished with just nine men following the second-half dismissals of Ludovic Giuly and Gianluca Zambrotta, the former particularly unfortunate.

Coach Frank Rijkaard played with an adventurous 3-4-3 formation against Zaragoza in the Copa del Rey in midweek and decided to persevere with the attack-minded system against title rivals Sevilla.

Samuel Eto'o was left on the bench as the visitors started with Ronaldinho in the centre-forward role, flanked by Frenchman Giuly and Argentinian Lionel Messi.

With Lilian Thuram and Deco both rested, Mexican defender Rafael Marquez started at the back alongside Catalans Carles Puyol and Oleguer. Dutchman Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Italian Zambrotta were deployed as attacking wing-backs, with Spain international midfielders Xavi and Andres Iniesta in midfield.

Barcelona started brilliantly and it was Zambrotta who set up for Ronaldinho for the opening goal on 13 minutes.

The Italian looked offside when he received the ball on the right wing, but the flag stayed down and the World Cup winner reached the byline before picking out Ronaldinho with a pinpoint cross, which the Brazilian headed back past the helpless Andres Palop.

The Catalans were totally in control of the game at this point and Sevilla had to wait until the 19th minute for their first effort on goal, when Frederic Kanoute fired well over the bar.

Eight minutes later, Barcelona had a great chance to go two up when Ronaldinho was brought down in the area by defender Ocio, who was shown the red card.

The Brazilian stepped up to take the kick, but sent his shot straight down the middle and Palop saved well with his legs to keep Sevilla in the match.

Despite the miss, things looked difficult for the home side, given their numerical disadvantage.

However, the Andalusians appeared to grow in confidence following Ronaldinho's error and equalized on 38 minutes.

Kanoute sent an intelligent long ball to right-back Alves in midfield, and the Brazilian charged forward, releasing Kerzakhov, who turned and fired a stinging left-footed shot past Victor Valdes from the edge of the area to bring the home side level.

Sevilla took control of the game on 60 minutes, when Alves fired a deflected free-kick past Valdes to put the home side ahead for the first time.

Things then got worse for Barcelona two minutes later after Giuly tangled with Alves and was unfairly shown the red card, as replays showed that the Frenchman had not even fouled the Brazilian.

Eto'o then came on for Marquez as the Catalans chased the game, but Barcelona went down to nine men soon afterwards when Zambrotta received his second yellow card on 76 minutes.

Fernando Morientes scored the only goal as Valencia edged past Celta Vigo, 1-0, in a gripping encounter at the Estadio Mestalla on Saturday evening.

With Barcelona due to play Sevilla in the late kickoff in a clash of the top two, the Spain international's 10th goal of the Primera Liga season helped Quique Sanchez Flores' men draw to within four points of the leaders.

However, it was not all smooth sailing for Los Ches, who were dominated for large spells by the opposition, who themselves are fighting for survival at the other end of the table and sit just a point above the relegation zone.

The hosts can count themselves lucky, especially after showing a lack of adventure in a cautious first half that produced only two chances.

The first of those came in the 18th minute, when quick thinking by Diego Placente saw him pick out Gabriel Sebastian Tamas, whose cracking 25-yard shot had to be parried by Santiago Canizares before the defence managed to clear the ball away to safety.

Five minutes later, an error from Perez Pablo Garcia let in Miguel Angulo, but his lobbed shot from 10 yards floated wide.

A halftime trip to the dressing room failed to inspire Valencia as they again looked lacklustre at the start of the second period.

In the 47th minute, Anderson Nene combined well with Argentinian Placente down the left before playing in a fine ball to Gustavo Lopez, who was well off-target with his attempted header from the centre of the penalty area.

More half-chances followed for the visitors, with Lopez and Tamas both firing wide. But the opener finally arrived in the 67th minute, totally against the run of play, when substitute Sanchez Joaquin made an immediate impact by cutting inside on the left and floating in a perfect ball that Morientes thumped home from close range.

That seemed to set off the home team and, shortly afterwards, David Villa saw a superb cross-goal effort come back of the upright - although he was marginally offside - before Joaquin again fired narrowly wide.

The action then shifted to the other end and Fernando Baiano was played in with a threaded through-ball from Nene, but his shot from the edge of the penalty area was punched away by Canizares.

Another substitute, Hugo Viana, then gave the visitors a dangerous 25-yard free-kick, which Fabian Canobbio put inches over the bar.

And their best chance to equalize came deep into stoppage time when Garcia's curling free-kick from the right was met by Baiano, who outjumped everyone at the back post but could only head tamely towards the ever-present Canizares as Celta were just about kept at bay.