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MIGUEL RIOPA / AFP
Sevilla’s struggles away from home in La Liga cost Jorge Sampaoli’s men top spot as lowly Sporting Gijon held the Europa League holders to a 1-1 draw on Saturday.
A point takes Sevilla level with Real Madrid at the top of the table, but behind the European champions on goal difference.
Madrid are in action at Alaves later on Saturday, whilst Barcelona and Atletico Madrid can also usurp Sevilla with wins over Granada and Malaga respectively.
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Sevilla snapped a 22-game winless streak on the road in their last away league game at Leganes and got off to the perfect start in Asturias when Luciano Vietto raced onto Wissam Ben Yedder’s flick-on to dink home his fourth goal of the season.
Sporting are now without a win in seven matches, but responded just 16 minutes later when Moi Gomez volleyed home Roberto Canella’s cross.
Chances flowed at either end of an entertaining first-half as Franco Vazquez struck the post for Sevilla, whilst Sergio Rico brilliantly saved from Borja Viguera at the other end.
Sevilla were dealt a huge blow at half-time when the in-form Samir Nasri had to be replaced due to injury.
And the Andalusians missed the creativity of the on-loan Manchester City midfielder in the second period although they came closest to a winner from set-pieces as Adil Rami headed inches wide before Gabriel Mercado bundled a loose ball onto the post.
