Negredo brace boosts Sevilla

Alvaro Negredo scored twice as Sevilla beat Athletic Bilbao 2-1 in a game in which both teams had a man sent off.

Spain striker Alvaro Negredo scored twice, including a late winner, as Sevilla defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-1 in a game that saw both teams finish with 10 men. Negredo got the ball rolling when he netted in the fourth minute and then won the match after Carlos Gurpegi looked to have grabbed a draw in the 55th minute. Negredo's second came after both sides lost a man - the hosts' Fernando Navarro after 74 minutes and Bilbao youngster Aymeric Laporte six minutes later. Gurpegi was partly responsible for Sevilla's opener, giving away the free-kick that Ivan Rakitic found Negredo with. His headed finish from six yards was enough to beat Gorka Iraizoz in the Athletic goal. Jose Antonio Reyes attempted to make it two soon after but he missed the target from close range. The best the visitors managed in the first 20 minutes was Oscar De Marcos' off-target effort from 25 yards and there was precious little to add to that before half-time. Sevilla, though, were busy. Negredo had a couple more chances, missing with one and seeing another blocked, while Rakitic was denied by Iraizoz. It was a surprise, therefore, when Gurpegi levelled 10 minutes after the restart. It came in similar circumstances to the first goal, with Ibai Gomez on free-kick duty and Gurpegi on hand to head home. Sevilla keeper Beto was called on for his first save of the game by Ander Herrera not long after. With 16 minutes remaining Bilbao's position was strengthened as Navarro picked up his second yellow card for a foul on Aritz Aduriz. But that advantage was gone when Laporte was booked twice in three minutes and sent on his way. That left 10 minutes for either team to win it with 10 men and Sevilla obliged, Negredo burying Reyes' cross from six yards.