Real Madrid 3-2 Sevilla

Posted Sunday, March 07, 2010 by BBC.com

Real Madrid 3-2 Sevilla
Van der Vaart scored the winner after coming as a substitute

Real Madrid came from two goals behind to beat Sevilla in a thrilling game as Manuel Pellegrini's side moved ahead of champions Barcelona on goal difference.

Xabi Alonso's own goal gave Sevilla a first-half lead with the visitors going 2-0 down after keeper Iker Casillas misread Ivica Dragutinovic's free-kick.

Cristiano Ronaldo's sidefooted finish sparked the Real comeback with Sergio Ramos heading home to make it 2-2.

And Rafael van der Vaart's scrambled stoppage-time goal sealed the victory.

Earlier on Saturday Barcelona drew 2-2 with Almeria, with the champions coming from behind twice to earn a point thanks to two goals from Lionel Messi.

It was an uncomfortable game for Barca, who had coach Pep Guardiola sent to the stands in the first half, with striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic red-carded in the second period.

That draw provided Real with the opportunity to leapfrog their bitter rivals, though Pellegrini's team did it the hard way after Alonso put the ball in his own net as he tried to stop it reaching Alvaro Negredo.

There seemed little danger when Dragutinovic strolled up to a Sevilla free-kick but somehow the ball crept inside the post with Casillas scrambling across his line to put the visitors 2-0 up.

Cue that remarkable Real recovery with Ronaldo firing in his 14th goal of the season and Ramos heading in following a corner four minutes later.

With time running out Ronaldo seemed certain to score only for Raul to get in the way of the Portuguese striker's shot, but substitute Van der Vaart's close-range finish ensured the perfect finish for an ecstatic Bernabeu crowd.

The win was no more than Real deserved given Guti hit the bar with a ferocious shot, while Gonzalo Higuain struck the woodwork twice in three minutes, with goalkeeper Andres Palop thwarting wave after wave of Madrid attacks.

With the title race in La Liga finely poised, Barca and Real will meet in a potentially decisive El Clasico on 11 April.