Rafael's last-gasp goal sees Real bounce back

Rafael van der Vaart scored an injury-time winner as Real Madrid came back to beat Sevilla 3-2 and replace Barcelona at the top of La Liga on Saturday after the champions were held 2-2 in Almeria.

Sevilla stunned the home fans by taking a two-goal at the Bernabeu with an own-goal from Xabi Alonso and an Ivica Dragutinovic freekick early in the second half.

Real stormed back, netting twice in four minutes through Cristiano Ronaldo and Sergio Ramos and the winner came when Van der Vaart scrambled the ball home in added time.

"The key for me was that this Madrid were able to play the kind of electric football they are capable of," Sevilla coach Manolo Jimenez told reporters.

"I have to say that this Madrid is electric, with power and speed, incredible. It was very difficult to keep Madrid away from our goal, given how fast they are."

Barca twice came from behind to draw with Almeria thanks to a double strike from Lionel Messi, the second coming after Zlatan Ibrahimovic had been sent off in the 61st minute.

Real climbed into first place, level on 62 points with their arch-rivals but with a superior goal difference.

Deportivo Coruna climbed to fifth on 41 points with a 3-1 comeback victory at home to lowly Tenerife thanks to goals from Juan Rodriguez, Andres Guardado and Diego Colotto.

Barcelona, who left France striker Thierry Henry on the bench again, were undone after 12 minutes in Almeria when Domingo Cisma rose to head home from a corner.

Almeria keeper Diego Alves was in fine form and as Barca's frustrations grew, coach Pep Guardiola was sent to the stands for disputing a decision.

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