The Andalusian team changes coach yet again after poor Liga and European form.

Only a week ago, Sevilla Sporting Director Ramn Rodrguez Monchi declared full confidence in his coach Marcelino Garca Toral. His faith only lasted a week, however, with a 2-1 home defeat to Villarreal proving the final nail in the coffin.

Still believing he could turn the teams fortunes around, the coach refused to quit on Sunday evening but the decision was taken out of his hands. Following an emergency meeting with soon-to-be-incarcerated club president Jos Mara del Nido and Monchi on Monday morning, he was given his marching orders.

Only in the job since the summer of 2011, he was brought in to replace Gregorio Manzano who was himself recently dismissed by Atltico Madrid and expected to better the clubs fifth place finish.

Instead, he got off to a dismal start failing to see Sevilla, who were back-to-back UEFA Cup winners in 2006 and 2007, past the qualifying stage of the Europa League.

Sevilla have managed only four wins under Marcelino, their last league victory coming at the beginning of December.

Any faint hope of silverware also vanished as they were knocked out of the Copa del Rey quarter finals by Valencia last month.

A week of discontent also saw Sevilla forced to deny talk of a harsh exchange of words between the coach and striker Frdric Kanout, which reportedly saw the latter stomping off to the changing rooms during training.

At the weekend, Sevilla played host to an equally struggling Villarreal side, who had not won on the road this season and it was the visitors who struck first as Borja Valero netted on 22 minutes.

The home side were level before the break, however, as Villarreal midfielder Bruno deflected Jess Navas’s shot into his own goal 12 minutes later.

Diego Lpez made fine saves to deny lvaro Negredo and Navas after half-time, and it was left to Javier Camuas to score the winner 10 minutes from time with a strike into the top corner at the end of a flowing counter-attack.

With 26 points from 21 matches, Sevilla are now 11th, just four points above the relegation zone and six adrift of the Champions League spots. Former Getafe coach and Real Madrid player Mchel has taken over the reins until the end of the season.

Meanwhile, reigning champions Barcelona continued to chase table toppers Real Madrid with a 2-1 victory over Real Sociedad at the Camp Nou.

Youngster Cristian Tello wasted no time in his first league start with a ninth minute goal for Bara before Lionel Messi struck on 72 minutes. Carlos Vela got one back for the visitors two minutes later making for a nervy finish.

In the Spanish capital, Sergio Ramos’s first-half header was enough to keep Madrid on course for the title with a 1-0 triumph away to city rivals Getafe.

Meanwhile, Champions League hopefuls Athletic Bilbao and Espanyol played out a thrilling 3-3 draw at the San Mams.

scar de Marcos gave Bilbao the lead before half time but Espanyol turned the game around after the break with goals from Romaric and Vladimir Weiss.

Fernando Llorente levelled for the home side, who went on to regain the lead through Javi Martnez, but substitute Juan Albn scored a last-minute equaliser for Espanyol.

In the late kick-off, Atltico Madrid and third-placed Valencia played out a goalless stalemate in the Vicente Caldern, while the fight for fourth spot continues after Levante were held to a 1-1 draw at home by lowly Racing Santander.

RESULTS:

Atltico Madrid 0 0 Valencia CF

Real Zaragoza 1 2 Rayo Vallecano

Sevilla FC 1 2 Villarreal CF

Sporting Gijn 1 1 Osasuna

FC Barcelona 2 1 Real Sociedad

Getafe CF 0 1 Real Madrid

Levante UD 1 1 Racing Santander

Athletic Bilbao 3 3 RCD Espanyol

RCD Mallorca 1 0 Real Betis

Granada CF 2 1 Mlaga CF

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