Modric subs in to score Real winner

Luka Modric came off the bench and lifted Real Madrid to a 1-0 win over Sevilla by scoring from long range to keep his team firmly in control of the Spanish league title race yesterday.

The 38-year-old Modric collected a deflection with one touch before unleashing a powerful strike that grazed the post before finding the net in the 81st minute. The former Ballon d’or winner had gone on just six minutes before with the leaders stymied in attack without injured top scorer Jude Bellingham.

Madrid were heading toward a second straight draw after being held 1-1 at Rayo Vallecano in the last round. Another stumble would have given Barcelona reason to hope they might just be able to mount a challenge after they overtook Girona for second place on Sunday.

Madrid’s victory kept them eight points above Barcelona and nine clear of Girona, who play Rayo today.

Bellingham, the league’s top scorer with 16 goals, has missed three games with a left ankle sprain.

Nico sent off

Nico Williams was sent off with two quick yellow cards to leave Athletic Bilbao with 10 players just before halftime in their 3-1 loss at Real Betis.

The Spain winger got his first card for a foul and compounded that by earning a second booking for his apparently sarcastic applause of the referee.

The loss meant Athletic failed to take advantage of Atletico Madrid’s 2-2 draw at bottom side Almeria on Sunday. Athletic remained in fifth place, three points behind fourthplaced Atletico. Betis moved into sixth, seven points behind Athletic.

Chimy Avila scored his first goal for Betis since joining from Osasuna in the winter transfer window to take the 13th-minute lead. Yuri Berchiche added an own goal before Williams was sent off in the 40th minute.

Gorka Guruzeta’s goal gave Athletic some hope in the 52nd, but Betis midfielder Johnny Cardoso added a third with a strike from the edge of the area in the 67th.

In the first half, an assistant referee had to leave the match after she ran into a TV camera and cut her head.

Darwin Machis’ goal deep in injury time snatched Cadiz a 2-2 draw with Celta Vigo in a meeting of two teams in danger of relegation.

Iago Aspas and Williot Swedberg gave Celta a 2-0 advantage before Juanmi Jimenez pulled one back for the hosts in the 66th minute and Machis curled a shot in from the corner of the area just before the final whistle. —AP