Negredo hat-trick lifts Sevilla

An Alvaro Negredo hat-trick helped Sevilla claim an emphatic 4-1 win over relegation-battling Celta Vigo.

An Alvaro Negredo hat-trick helped Sevilla claim an emphatic win over relegation-battling Celta Vigo to move into the top half of the Primera Division. The striker scored twice in the opening half-hour before Augusto Fernandez sparked hopes of a comeback for Celta. Those hopes were ended by two goals in three second-half minutes, though, with Gary Medel notching first before Negredo completed his treble to lift Sevilla to six points off the European places. Despite starting the day in the bottom three, Celta gave their opponents a fright after eight minutes with a 20-yard drive from Iago Aspas which was tipped around the post by Antonio Beto. Sevilla's response was to open the scoring four minutes later with a crisp right-footed strike from Negredo which flew into the roof of the net. Celta seemed undeterred by the goal and Beto produced another superb fingertip save to deny Aspas after 23 minutes. However, Sevilla increased their advantage six minutes later again through Negredo, who this time drilled a shot from the edge of the area into the bottom-left corner. That sparked a spell of dominance from the home side which saw Ivan Rakitic head over the crossbar from close range before defender Coke hit a powerful strike from 20 yards which almost caught goalkeeper Javi Varas off guard. Celta refused to panic, though, and their patience paid off five minutes before the interval thanks to Fernandez, who benefited from a neat lay-off by Fabian Orellano to slam the ball into the top-left corner. The second half was almost 20 minutes old before the first shot arrived from Negredo, but Varas was equal to it. There was nothing he could do to keep out Medel after 66 minutes, though, with the Chilean midfielder finding the top-right corner with an angled drive from 25 yards. Celta had barely digested that goal when Sevilla struck again, Negredo completing his hat-trick with a daisy cutter from the centre of the area. The home side were cruising now and Jesus Navas fashioned two chances to extend their lead, putting the first past the right post before blasting over from distance. The nearest Celta came to adding to their tally was a free-kick from Aspas which was taken comfortably by Beto.