Deportivo 2 - Sevilla 1

Deportivo: Dudu Aouate; Manuel Pablo, Lopo, Pablo Amo, Coloccini, Filipe; Wilhelmsson, Antonio Tomás (Juan Rodríguez 75'), De Guzmán, Lafita (Valerón 85'); Bodipo (Riki 78'). 5-4-1.
Sevilla: Palop; Daniel Alves, Mosquera, Lolo, Crespo; Jesús Navas, Poulsen, Maresca (Keita 72'), Duda (Diego Capel 66'); Kone, Kanouté (Luis Fabiano 50'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Deportivo: Antonio Tomás, Bodipo for Sergio, Xisco / Sevilla: Lolo, Crespo, Poulsen, Duda, Kone for Escudé, Adriano, Keita, Diego Capel, Luis Fabiano.

Goals:
0-1. 25. Kanouté. Picked up Maresca pass and beat Aouate with low shot.
1-1. 35. Wilhelmsson (penalty). After Maresca brought down Bodipo inside area.
2-1. 64. Lafita. Poked ball past Palop after Antonio Tomás played on free kick.

Sevilla's push for a Champions League spot took a set-back after they were beaten 2-1 by Deportivo, ending a run of five games without a loss. With this year's edition in mind, and in particular Tuesday's game with Fenerbahçe, Manolo Jiménez had made five changes to his line-up. But even so they took the lead midway through the first half when Kanouté ran on to a Maresca pass to shoot low past Aouate, referee Muñiz Fernández waving away claims for offside.

Both teams had had several chances before that with Filipe and Lafita having efforts saved and Navas, Kanouté and Kone going close at the other end. With ten minutes to go to the break though the locals equalised from the penalty spot after Maresca and Bodipo wrestled each other to the ground, Wilhelmsson converting the kick for his first goal for his new club.

Depor got what was to prove the winner though twenty minutes in to the second half from a set piece free kick, Antonio Tomás playing to ball through to Lafita who turned a first time shot past Palop. Maresca and Keita went close after that, but Antonio Tomás, Lafita and Riki could all have increased the lead at the other end as well. Three vital points though for Miguel Angel Lotina's side which lifts them out of the relegation zone up to a heady thirteenth spot pending Sunday's games.