Fabiano blasts Sevilla

A dreadful couple of months had seen Gregorio Manzano’s side slide into the bottom half of the standings but, after their 3-0 Copa del Rey hammering of Villarreal in midweek, the Andalusian side blasted their struggling guests away thanks to a stand-out performance from the Brazilian.

Julien Escude was also on target for the hosts, while Xisco Munoz scored what proved to be a consolation for Levante.

Sevilla cruised into a three-goal half-time lead against a Levante side that offered little resistance at the back and no threat going forward.

After Alvaro Negredo clipped a finish wide from close range, Fabiano powerfully headed Jesus Navas’s cross past Manolo Reina for a 28th-minute opener.

Defender Escude doubled the lead with another header, this time at the near post from Romaric’s corner, while it was 3-0 minutes later after Javi Venta hauled down Javi Navarro in the box: Fabiano made no mistake with his low, firm penalty.

The second half was little different as Sevilla asked all the questions while Levante sat very deep and rarely threatened.

But, from nothing, they pulled one back just before the hour mark, Felipe Caicedo with some excellent hold-up play on the edge of the box to thread Munoz in to smack home a neat finish.

It was a false alarm for Sevilla though, as they continued to dominate and added a deserved fourth when - on 68 minutes - Fabiano robbed Hector Rodas on the edge of the box before squeezing out a dipping effort that nestled in the bottom left.

That took the sting out of the match, which became scrappy and disjointed but Sevilla will not mind as, until Sunday night at least, it puts them joint seventh.