SEVILLE: Sevilla provisionally climbed to top of La Liga after Steven N’Zonzi’s second half strike handed them a 1-0 win over 10-man Atletico Madrid, inflicting a first defeat of the season on Diego Simeone’s side at a soggy Sanchez Pizjuan on Sunday.

Former Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City midfielder N’zonzi skipped past Atletico’s backline to latch onto a through ball from Atletico loanee Luciano Vietto to score in the 73rd minute and seal Sevilla’s first win over Atletico in over six years.

Atletico and Spain midfielder Koke was dismissed for a second booking in the 77th. The visiting side almost snatched a late equaliser but defender Diego Godin’s header went straight towards Sevilla goalkeeper Sergio Rico.

Sevilla top the standings with 20 points, a point clear of Barcelona and two ahead of Atletico who slipped from first to third. However, Real Madrid can move back to the top with victory over Athletic Bilbao later on Sunday.

Earlier, former Liverpool striker Iago Aspas struck twice as Celta Vigo smashed Deportivo la Coruna 4-1 in the Galician derby to move into the top half of the table.

Published in Dawn, October 24th, 2016