Sevilla move into second spot after win at Celta

MADRID, Oct 30 (Reuters) Sevilla moved into second place behind Barcelona in the Primera Liga standings after goals from midfielders Christian Poulsen and Adriano Correia earned the UEFA Cup holders a 2-1 comeback win at Celta Vigo yesterday.

Celta took an early lead when Brazilian midfielder Nene fired a low shot past keeper Andres Palop from just outside the area in the seventh minute.

Danish midfielder Poulsen put the visitors back on level terms just after the half hour mark when he fired home with a 15-metre piledriver after a poor defensive clearance.

Sevilla's Brazilian winger Adriano helped himself to the winner 16 minutes into the second half when he steered the ball past keeper Jose Manuel Pinto after robbing Antonio Nunez of possession just outside the area.

Celta had the chance to level the match three minutes from time when they were awarded a penalty but Palop saved Fernando Baiano's spot kick and Pablo Contreras sent his follow-up wide of the post.

The win allowed Sevilla to leapfrog Real Madrid and take up second place in the standings, a point behind champions Barcelona.

Barca, who beat Recreativo Huelva 3-0 on Saturday, lead the table on 19 points from eight games, Sevilla have 18 and Real, who beat Gimnastic Tarragona 3-1, are on 17.

LATE WIN Real Zaragoza move up to fourth place, a further point behind, after snatching a late 1-0 win against a dominant Atletico Madrid at the Calderon.

Atletico were in charge for practically the whole game, but once again they paid dearly for their lack of bite up front.

Zaragoza midfielder Oscar grabbed the winner three minutes from time when he headed the ball over keeper Leo Franco after his first shot had spun up into the air off a defender's foot.

Valencia dropped to fifth after their 1-0 defeat at Racing Santander on Saturday, and also have 16 points as do Bernd Schuster's Getafe who earned themselves a third win in a row with a 2-0 victory at home to Deportivo Coruna.

Miguel Angel Lotina got off to an inauspicious start as Real Sociedad coach when his new team went down 1-0 at home to Villarreal.

The defeat means that Sociedad remain anchored to the foot of the table with just two points from eight matches, equalling their worst ever start to a league campaign.

Gimnastic have four points as do Real Betis who lost 1-0 at home to Real Mallorca after a Bosko Jankovic goal condemned Javier Irureta's side to a sixth defeat of the season.

Reuters DH VP0414