Real Madrid 3 - Sevilla 2

Madrid: Casillas; Cicinho, Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Miguel Torres (Iván Helguera 58'); Diarra, Emerson; Beckham, Raúl (Guti 58'), Robinho; Van Nistelrooy. 4-2-3-1.
Sevilla: Palop; Daniel Alves, Aitor Ocio, Escudé, Dragutinovic; Maresca, Poulsen, Renato (Hinkel 63'), Antonio Puerta; Kerzhakov (Chevantón 70'), Kanouté. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Madrid: No change / Sevilla: Escudé, Renato, Kanouté for David, Jesús Navas, Chevantón.

Goals:
0-1. 41. Maresca. Hooked shot wide of Casillas into top corner from edge of area.
1-1. 62. Van Nistelrooy. Picked up pass from Guti and rounded keeper to score.
2-1. 78. Robinho. Ran on to pass from Guti to turn shot wide of Palop.
3-1. 86. Van Nistelrooy. Header close to goal after Palop blocked shot from Ramos
3-2. 93. Chevantón. Bent free kick over defensive wall into lower corner of net.

Real Madrid moved up to second in the table after a thrilling 3-2 win over title rivals Sevilla. After Barcelona's victory the night before, both sides needed a win to keep in touch with the leaders. And the game got off to a lively start, with Maresca firing an early free kick wide, and Robinho, Diarra, Raúl and Emerson all seeing efforts kept out by Palop and his defence.

The visitors got the edge though shortly before the break when Maresca hooked a spectacular volley past Casillas after Kanouté headed across Maresca's free kick. Sergio Ramos had a penalty appeal turned down soon after the restart and Palop saved another effort from Beckham, but with the clock running on Capello turned to Guti. It proved to be an inspired move, as within a few minutes of coming on the experienced midfielder set up Van Nistelrooy for him to round Palop and score.

Juande Ramos also decided to make changes, but his plans were scuppered when Luis Fabiano was shown a red card by referee Pérez Burrull for insulting a linesman while still warming up. Alves missed the easiest of chances and then brought a good save out Casillas, but soon afterwards Guti was there again to slide a pass through for Robinho to put the home side ahead.

Robinho got himself sent off for a silly second booking after taking off his shirt in celebration, but Aitor Ocio was also red carded for hitting out at Diarra as players jostled each other pending a corner. With four minutes to go Van Nistelrooy appeared to have wrapped things up when he headed in from close up after Palop could only parry out a shot from Sergio Ramos, but Chevantón struck home an injury time free kick to put the result in doubt until the final whistle.