Sevilla 1 : 0 Osasuna - New year starts brightly for Sevilla

Emir Spahic's late goal gave Sevilla a much-needed 1-0 win over Osasuna as they put their dismal end to 2012 behind them.

Spahic fired in from Jose Antonio Reyes' knock-down in the 83rd minute to give Sevilla only their first win in six matches after they had slipped down to 14th place before the winter break.

The narrow margin will tell coach Michel his side's problems are not all fixed yet, but they certainly deserved the win after creating the vast majority of the chances.

Osasuna goalkeeper Andres Fernandez was kept busy all evening, with Cicinho the first to test him from just outside the area, although he made the save comfortably.

There were fleeting glimpses of goal for Osasuna, with Mate Oier Sanjurjo heading over before Diego Lopez turned Emiliano Armenteros' effort around the post, but Sevilla were soon on the attack again.

Geoffrey Kondogbia fired wide and then, early in the second half, Fernandez made an excellent save to keep out his close-range shot.

Kondogbia was off-target with another chance from the edge of the area, but Sevilla kept the pressure on with a series of corners with culminated in Alvaro Negredo heading narrowly over the crossbar.

Fernandez then made another fine save to keep out Ivan Rakitic's powerful shot and it seemed as though Sevilla would be made to settle for a draw until Spahic popped up with time ticking down.

Having conceded, Osasuna finished the game with a series of corners but could not do anything to worry Diego Lopez before the final whistle.