Madrid  - Sevilla moved up to joint top of the Spanish Liga on Tuesday with a 2-0 home defeat of sixth-placed Mallorca.

Their third win in four games leaves Sevilla with nine points, the same total as Real Madrid, Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao.

Manolo Jimenez' talented team set off like an express train and were 2-0 up within 26 minutes, thanks to goals from Sebastien Squillaci and Diego Perotti.

Sevilla's French Connection gave them their first goal, in the 18th minute. Julien Escude glanced an Adriano corner across goal and Squillaci headed home powerfully.

Eight minutes later the promising Perotti made it 2-0 by heading in a Jesus Navas centre from the right.

Mallorca never managed to come out of their defensive shell and never threatened to spoil the fiesta in the Sanchez Pizjuan. Luis Fabiano and Alvaro Negredo came close to increasing Sevilla's lead in the second half.

"We should really have won by more goals," said Negredo. "Now we are running into good form, and are enjoying our matches."

Later on Tuesday Barcelona were away to ninth-placed Racing Santander, who often create problems for the Catalans in the Estadio Sardinero.  dpa