Real Madrid lost the Spanish league lead and its first game of the season as Sevilla mounted a 3-2 comeback on Sunday, letting Barcelona take over top spot in the standings before the title rivals meet next round.
Ciro Immobile scored his first goal for Sevilla before Ever Banega and Fernando llorente added strikes to complete the rally after Sergio Ramos put Madrid ahead. James Rodriguez scored a consolation goal with the match’s final kick, but otherwise Rafa Benitez’s side had no answers in Seville.
Hours before, Neymar helped Barcelona take the league lead by continuing his scoring streak by netting a brace- with luis Suarez scoring another- in a 3-0 win at home over Villarreal.
Madrid could not have asked for a better start when Ramos scored an acrobatic kick from a corner kick in the 22nd. But the goal cost him and his team dearly as he re-injured his left shoulder on falling after the strike. He tried to continue but was replaced by Raphael Varane in the 31st.
Banega put the hosts in front in the 61st when he finished off an electrifying run through the area by Ukraine winger Yevhen Konoplyanka after he combined with Immobile.