Real Madrid 3 - Sevilla 0

Real Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado (Miñambres 49'), Hierro (Pavón 79'), Iván Helguera, Roberto Carlos; Makelele, Flavio Conceiçao; Figo, Raúl (Guti 76'), Zidane; Ronaldo. 4-2-3-1.
Sevilla: Notario; Redondo (Njegus 46'), Javi Navarro, Pablo Alfaro, David; Torrado, Casquero; Marcos Vales, Reyes, Arteaga (Toedtli 69'); Antoñito (Oscar 54'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Madrid: Hierro, Makelele for Pavón, Solari / Sevilla: Arteaga, Antoñito for Fredi, Toedtli.

Goals:
Goals:
1-0. 09. Raúl. Got ahead of marker to head long Figo cross past Notario.
2-0. 29. Flavio Conceiçao. Ran on to loose ball to shoot wide of keeper.
3-0. 73. Zidane. Turned ball in after Ronaldo cross palmed away by Notario.

Real Madrid moved up to second place after a comfortable win over Sevilla in a match which was postponed from day twelve due to the European champions participation in the Intercontinental cup last month. The visitors turned up with a home grown team which had only cost them around €200,000, but they were full of confidence after two wins in a row. However Madrid were back to full strength, and after a lively start Caparrós' side found themselves behind when Raúl got on the end of Figo's long cross to head past Notario. Flavio had displaced Cambiasso in the starting line up after the Argentine midfielder had only just returned from his honeymoon, and he took advantage to make his claim for a regular place, firing a long shot wide of the keeper for the second goal after the defence failed to clear.

The goal was a clear blow to the Andalucians, and only good goalkeeping by Notario prevented Del Bosque's side from extending their lead before the break. However a half time talk by the manager bucked up their ideas, and they came out for the second half grimly determined to get back by whatever means it took. Pablo Alfaro was lucky though not to be seen by the referee when he trod on Salgado's thigh, ending the full back's participation in the match, and a minute later Javi Navarro was sent off after trying the same trick on Ronaldo.

Caparrós took off his young striker Antoñito to bring on central defender Oscar, but as the game wore on he decided he needed a centre forward, putting on Toedtli for young midfielder Arteaga, who had been a surprise inclusion in the starting eleven. Madrid relaxed, and Casillas was forced to make a couple of important saves as Marcos Vales and Reyes both tried their luck. But then a run down the left by Ronaldo ended in a cross which Notario could only palm away, and there was Zidane to wrap things up. After that Del Bosque rested his key players, already thinking about Sunday's game with Valencia. This was his side's fourth win in a row, and they close up to within five points of leaders Real Sociedad. (02.01.03)