REAL Madrid’s 40-match unbeaten run came to an end as Sevilla scored twice late on to secure a 2-1 victory in a thrilling conclusion to Sunday’s La Liga encounter.
It was the teams’ second meeting in four days at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan after an enthralling 3-3 draw in the Copa del Rey last 16 Thursday, but until the 85th minute this clash failed to live up to the drama of that tie.
Cristiano Ronaldo had given Madrid the lead midway through the second period with a coolly taken penalty — his 21st goal in just 13 appearances against Sevilla.
The buildup to this fixture saw the clubs involved in a spat surrounding Sevilla fans’ treatment of Sergio Ramos during the Copa clash, and the home fans will have taken delight in the Madrid captain heading past his own goalkeeper to level matters.
But worse was to come for the leaders as, in stoppage time, Stevan Jovetic marked his maiden league appearance for Sevilla with the winner — curling a shot from just outside the box that Keylor Navas could only parry into the bottom-right corner.
The victory — Sevilla’s eighth at home from nine league outings this season — lifts the side above Barcelona and into second, a point behind Madrid, which has a game in hand.
Ramos — chosen alongside Nacho and Raphael Varane in a back three rather than the usual four — was rarely troubled as Sevilla struggled to break through until the remarkable end to the game.
Steven N’Zonzi glanced a header over from a corner and Samir Nasri brought a comfortable save out of Navas, while at the other end Ronaldo thumped one free-kick into the wall and saw another low shot easily held by Sergio Rico.
The best chance of the half arrived five minutes before the interval, but Ronaldo failed to get a telling touch on Karim Benzema’s low ball across the area.
Sevilla began the second period brightly with Navas forced to tip over Franco Vazquez’s effort and the goalkeeper got down smartly to his right to deny Wissam Ben Yedder’s low drive in the 54th minute.
(SD-Agencies)
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