Barca five clear as Valencia slip up

VALENCIA suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to nine-man Sevilla last night to leave Barcelona five points clear at the top of the Primera Liga table.

The champions took the lead in the 58th minute with a Bernardo Corradi strike that took a huge deflection off Aitor Ocio, but seven minutes later Julio Baptista grabbed the equaliser.

Each side had a player sent off before Carlos Aranda stole in at the far post for the winner eight minutes from time. Aranda then became the second Sevilla player to be red-carded but Valencia could find no way to avoid their first league defeat of the season.