The Andalusian side triumphed thanks to second half strikes from winger Antonio Puerta, Uruguayan striker Ernesto Chevanton and substitute Jose Luis Marti to stay in the hunt for a first ever league title. Ferran Corominas netted Espanyol's goal.

Sevilla had started the day just a point behind Barcelona and maintained the pressure on Frank Rijkaard's side by moving provisionally top of the table just before the Spanish champions' home match against Levante.

Both Sevilla and Espanyol made changes to their side ahead of their UEFA Cup semi-final second leg ties on Thursday.

Sevilla left strikers Frederic Kanoute and Luis Fabiano on the bench, but welcomed back Andres Palop to the side after the goalkeeper recovered from injury this week.

Espanyol coach Ernesto Valverde was forced to field an even weaker side after midfielder Ivan De La Pena and striker Raul Tamudo picked up knocks against Werder Bremen on Thursday.

With winger Luis Garcia also out through suspension, the Catalans began the game with an unfamiliar midfield and it showed early on as Sevilla bossed the opening exchanges.

Juande Ramos' side should have gone ahead as early as the fourth minute, but Cameroon goalkeeper Carlos Kameni produced a fantastic save to deny Aitor Ocio after Ivica Dragutinovic had rattled a powerful shot against the crossbar.

Brazilian full-back Dani Alves then drove just wide on 11 minutes and Kameni saved well from Russian forward Alexander Kerzakhov seconds later as Sevilla piled on the pressure.

Alves also fired a free-kick just over the bar and Chevanton was just off target with a header as half-time approached.

Sevilla went in at the break with nothing to show for their dominance, but did not have to wait long to open their account in the second half.

The home side carried on as they had left off in the first half and deservedly went ahead when Puerta pounced on a loose ball to fire home on 51 minutes.

In their very next attack, Sevilla then went two up.

Chevanton clumsily fell over in the area, but managed to regain his composure to poke the ball past Kameni from the ground.

Sevilla appeared to be strolling to victory at this stage, but allowed Espanyol back into the game on the hour mark, when Corominas pulled a goal back for the visitors.

As he had done on Thursday against Bremen, the young striker fired clinically home after a quick Espanyol counter-attack.

Marti was brought on to tighten up the midfield in place of Italian midfielder Enzo Maresca, and restored Sevilla's two-goal advantage with a lovely strike from just outside the area on 74 minutes.

Chevanton then almost surprised Kameni with a cheeky free-kick five minutes later, but saw his effort sail just over the bar.

With Espanyol looking tired, Sevilla seemed quite happy to keep hold of the ball after that to secure a win which keeps the Andalusians in the hunt for an unprecedented Primera Liga, Copa del Rey and UEFA Cup treble.