Leganes blow for Sevilla
Madrid, March 12: Sevilla’s La Liga title hopes suffered a fresh blow on Saturday as they were held 1-1 at home by lowly Leganes.
Atletico Madrid are now just five points adrift of Sevilla in third as Antoine Griezmann headed home the winner in a vital 1-0 victory at Granada for Diego Simeone’s men.
Sevilla continued to struggle ahead of their return to Champions League action against Leicester City in midweek after a 1-1 draw at Alaves on Monday.
Leganes capitalised on a sluggish start by the hosts as Gabriel Pires backheeled Nabil El Zhar’s low cross into the far corner.
On-loan Inter Milan striker Stefan Jovetic was the only Sevilla player to escape with any credit as he finished off a fine move for his fourth goal since joining in January.
Atletico opened up a fourpoint gap on Real Sociedad in the battle for the fourth Champions League spot as they eventually wore down Granada at Nuevo Los Carmenes.
Yannick Carrasco headed inches wide for the visitors with the best chance of the first half while Griezmann fired wastefully into the side-netting on his favoured left foot.
However, Griezmann made amends six minutes from time when he headed Koke’s cross into the far corner.
Granada were then reduced to 10 men in stoppage time when midfielder Mubarak Wakaso was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Elsewhere, Sporting Gijon remain rooted in the relegation zone as Munir El Haddadi’s header six minutes from time rescued Valencia a point from a 1-1 draw at Mestalla earlier on Saturday.
And former Marseille coach Michel got off to a losing start as Malaga boss as Edgar Mendez struck in stoppage time to hand 10man Alaves a 2-1 win at La Rosaleda.