Sevilla 4 - Real Madrid 1

Sevilla: Esteban; Daniel Alves (Njegus 85'), Javi Navarro, Alfaro, David; Redondo (Oscar 92'), Casquero, Martí, Reyes; Antoñito (Hornos 65'), Darío Silva. 4-4-2.
Real Madrid: Casillas; Pavón, Iván Helguera, Rubén (Solari 25'), Raúl Bravo; Beckham, Guti; Figo, Raúl, Zidane; Ronaldo. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Sevilla: Esteban, Redondo, Antoñito for Notario, Gallardo, Luis Gil / Madrid: Pavón, Rubén for Michel Salgado, Roberto Carlos.

Goals:
1-0. 07. Helguera (own goal). Ball bounced in off thigh after Rubén header hit him.
2-0. 09. Darío Silva. Picked up Reyes through ball and fired shot wide of Casillas.
3-0. 17. Daniel Alves. Ran on to lifted Antoñito pass to head ball over keeper.
4-0. 40. Casquero. Beat keeper with shot from edge of area after Reyes passed in.
4-1. 55. Ronaldo. Cut in from right and made space to shoot low across Esteban.

A disastrous game for Real Madrid, who missed out on the chance to return to the top of the table after being thrashed 4-1 by Sevilla. Carlos Queiroz had his doubts about his defensive line up, with Salgado suspended and Roberto Carlos out injured, and he eventually decided to draft in young central defender Rubén, with Pavón moving to right back to control Reyes and Raúl Bravo switching to his natural left back position. It proved to be an unwise choice though, as Reyes made mincemeat of the defence and the Andalucians raced into a three goal lead with only seventeen minutes gone.

The first goal was unfortunate though, Rubén diving forward to try and head clear a cross from Daniel Alves and only succeeding in steering the ball at Iván Helguera and back into his own net. Before they had time to recover Reyes had set up Darío Silva for him to fire a second goal past Casillas, and Alves got a third when he ran on to Antoñito's lifted pass to head the ball over the advancing keeper. Madrid were in complete disarray, and the press cameras caught Casillas and Guti arguing furiously between themselves after the last goal.

Queiroz decided he had to do something, and replaced a surprised Rubén with Solari, with Raúl Bravo moving back to the centre. This was the line up everybody expected him to start with, but it left a bitter taste in the mouth of the fans and Rubén was seen sobbing on the bench. Things didn't improve though, and soon after Beckham was let off a penalty after he blocked an Alves free kick with his hands, Sevilla scored again when Reyes robbed the ball off Pavón, played a one-two with Antoñito and set up Casquero for him to shoot wide of Casillas.

After that Queiroz made another switch, moving Raúl Bravo to right back to try his luck with Reyes. And at half time he moved Beckham out to the right wing and brought Figo infield. To a certain extent that worked better, and Raúl missed an easy chance to pull one back in front of goal. Three minutes later it was Ronaldo's turn, and he did find the target after making him space on the edge of the area. Beckham bent a free kick just round the post and Ronaldo headed down into the ground from Beckham's corner when he should have done better.

But that was it, and Martí should have got a fifth for the hosts when he shot over the bar with the goal at his mercy. The action slowed as the rain started to fall, but referee Tristante Oliva kept the show going with a record number of yellow cards, reaching fifteen in all after sending off Guti and then Darío Silva for second bookable offences. Sevilla had beaten Real Madrid in the Sánchez Pizjuan stadium for the first time in eleven years, and move up to the top half of the table. The "Galacticos" were brought down to Earth though, and ended the day down in third spot. They now have two weeks to try and forget about it.