The reigning UEFA Cup champions, who had dropped back to third following Madrid`s win over Valencia on Saturday, stormed to victory on the back of second-half goals from Alexander Kerzhakov, Antonio Puerta, Ernesto Chevanton and Luis Fabiano, who also missed an eighth-minute penalty.

The hosts thought they had taken the lead in the fifth minute when Christian Poulsen rose to head home Daniel Alves' right-wing cross, but the strike was promptly disallowed by referee Arturo Dauden Ibanez for a foul on goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia.

Sevilla had made a rampaging start however, and were awarded a penalty just two minutes later when Bilbao's Fran Yeste brought down Kerzhakov in the box.

Luis Fabiano stepped up aiming for precision over power, but his shot struck the inside of Aranzubia's left-hand post and rebounded back into play.

The visitors were buoyed by the double let-off and set about creating some chances of their own.

Joseba Etxeberria went agonisingly close in the 11th minute but lashed his attempt against the foot of the post from five yards out, much to the relief of home goalkeeper David Cobeno.

Poulsen really should have put Sevilla ahead on the quarter-hour mark but amazingly dragged his shot wide from all of six yards, after latching onto Jesus Navas' low cross.

The first half grew cagey after such a pulsating opening and it was not until the 40th minute that either side threatened again.

Luis Fabiano, desperate to avenge his early blunder fired a sweet shot goalwards from 12 yards but Josu Sarriegi did well to cover ground and make a timely block.

The second half began in blistering fashion and Etxeberria brought a fine save out of Cobeno just seconds in, when he struck from the edge of the box with venom.

It was Sevilla though that finally broke the deadlock, Luis Fabiano laying the ball off for strike partner Kerzhakov to fire neatly into the corner.

And they nearly made it two just seconds later when Alves played a teasing free-kick into the area, but Luis Fabiano headed over.

The second goal did not take long to come however and, in the 56th minute, Sevilla extended their lead in bizarre circumstances.

Puerta found the net with an opportune piece of attacking play, bending the ball home from the tightest of angles, whilst approaching the Bilbao by-line.

The midfielder's cheeky effort got the better of stand-in Bilbao goalkeeper Inaki Lafuente - who replaced the injured Aranzubia in the first half - and nestled in off the far post, to cement Sevilla's advantage.

Kerzhakov came close to adding further to the home side's tally but it was Chevanton who eventually did the damage, connecting well with Luis Fabiano's sweeping cross to send a controlled effort neatly into the goal with 20 minutes remaining.

Bilbao netted a consolation in the 76th minute when Andoni Iraola fizzed a clever cross across goal and Yeste converted with a powerful header.

It was too little too late for the visitors though, and their woe was compounded nine minutes from time when Alves' cross was met by Luis Fabiano, who finally got the goal he deserved - flashing a right-foot drive past Lafuente from inside the box to complete a rousing victory.