Makaay sends Barca crashing

TITLE-CHASING Deportivo La Coruna condemned Raddy Antic to his first home defeat in charge of Barcelona with a thoroughly-deserved 4-2 victory thanks in part to a brace from Roy Makaay.

The result keeps the pressure on leaders Real Madrid, who face Real Socieded on Sunday, as the win moves Depor within three points of the top of the table.

Argentinian international striker Javier Saviola fired the Catalan giants ahead after just two minutes, though Lionel Scaloni equalised shortly after when he swept home Makaay's free-kick.

Thiago Motta restored Barca's advantage with a superb left-footed drive after 24 minutes, though the struggling giants could not capitalise on their first-half advantage.

Makaay netted his side's second leveller with a glancing header, from Romero's cross on 50 minutes, before beating the offside trip and slotting past Roberto Bonano for their first lead of the contest.

Moments after taking the lead the visitors were reduced to ten men when Romero received his second booking for what appeared to be a harsh foul on Saviola.

Barca then found themselves a man down when Saviola was dismissed for picking up his second yellow card for handball, after he was booked in the first half for diving.

Just minutes after the home side were down to ten men, Juan Carlos Valeron found Sergio just outside the box and he curled the ball inside the far post to complete an impressive win.

Sevilla bolstered their chances of securing a place in next year's Uefa Cup after securing a late 3-1 victory over Villarreal.

The win propelled the side over Atletico Madrid and Real Betis in the table, leaving them just three points behind Celta Vigo in fifth place.

Highly-rated Jose Antonio Reyes opened the scoring on nine minutes, but the lead was short-lived as Montana Jorge Lopez levelled matters moments later.

With the home side pushing forward late on, searching for that all-important winner, Greek striker Nikos Machlas cropped up and bagged a late brace to steal the points.

Spanish Primera Liga 
Barcelona 2-4 Deportivo La Coruna
Sevilla 3-1 Villarreal

Click here for the latest La Liga table.