<p>The only goal in Seville was headed in by Brazil striker Luis Fabiano, on a centre from Diego Capel, in the 35th minute.<br /><br />Spirited Osasuna came close to equalizing at the end, but the Sevilla defence managed to hold firm.<br /><br />“These are three very important points for us,” said veteran Sevilla keeper Andres Palop.<br />“Now that we have taken back fourth place,” he added, “we intend to keep it, right until the end of the season”.<br /><br />Sevilla are four points behind third-placed Valencia, who drew 1-1 away to Sporting Gijon on Saturday.<br /><br />Palop and company are two points above Mallorca - who are away to lowly Tenerife on Monday - and four ahead of Deportivo Coruna, who crashed 2-0 away to lively Espanyol earlier on Sunday.<br /><br />Joan Verdu and Jose Callejomn scored the goals which keep Espanyol well above the relegation quicksand.<br /><br />“We have wasted a good chance today,” said Deportivo defender Alberto Lopo, who was playing against his former team.<br /><br />“We need to be more consistent away from home,” he added, “in order to get close to the Champions League places”.<br /><br />The defeat leaves Deportivo in sixth place, just two points above Athletic Bilbao, who lost 2-1 away to Villarreal on Saturday.<br /><br />In Sunday’s other games, Getafe were held 2-2 by Almeria, while Malaga scored an important 3-0 win away to Racing Santander, which keeps them well above the danger zone.<br />Zaragoza also enjoyed a good Sunday on the road, battling out a 1-1 draw away to fellow strugglers Valladolid.<br /><br />Xerez - who crashed 3-0 at home to second-placed Real Madrid Saturday - are well adrift at the bottom, with just 11 points. Then come Tenerife on 17, Valladolid on 19, Zaragoza on 21 and Almeria on 23.<br /><br />Sunday’s late game brings together injury-hit leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, who are sixth from bottom with 24 points.</p>
<p>The only goal in Seville was headed in by Brazil striker Luis Fabiano, on a centre from Diego Capel, in the 35th minute.<br /><br />Spirited Osasuna came close to equalizing at the end, but the Sevilla defence managed to hold firm.<br /><br />“These are three very important points for us,” said veteran Sevilla keeper Andres Palop.<br />“Now that we have taken back fourth place,” he added, “we intend to keep it, right until the end of the season”.<br /><br />Sevilla are four points behind third-placed Valencia, who drew 1-1 away to Sporting Gijon on Saturday.<br /><br />Palop and company are two points above Mallorca - who are away to lowly Tenerife on Monday - and four ahead of Deportivo Coruna, who crashed 2-0 away to lively Espanyol earlier on Sunday.<br /><br />Joan Verdu and Jose Callejomn scored the goals which keep Espanyol well above the relegation quicksand.<br /><br />“We have wasted a good chance today,” said Deportivo defender Alberto Lopo, who was playing against his former team.<br /><br />“We need to be more consistent away from home,” he added, “in order to get close to the Champions League places”.<br /><br />The defeat leaves Deportivo in sixth place, just two points above Athletic Bilbao, who lost 2-1 away to Villarreal on Saturday.<br /><br />In Sunday’s other games, Getafe were held 2-2 by Almeria, while Malaga scored an important 3-0 win away to Racing Santander, which keeps them well above the danger zone.<br />Zaragoza also enjoyed a good Sunday on the road, battling out a 1-1 draw away to fellow strugglers Valladolid.<br /><br />Xerez - who crashed 3-0 at home to second-placed Real Madrid Saturday - are well adrift at the bottom, with just 11 points. Then come Tenerife on 17, Valladolid on 19, Zaragoza on 21 and Almeria on 23.<br /><br />Sunday’s late game brings together injury-hit leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, who are sixth from bottom with 24 points.</p>