Casemiro scores 2 as Madrid beats Sevilla 2-1

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Midfielder Casemiro scored a brace to give Real Madrid a 2-1 home win over Sevilla in the Spanish league on Saturday.

The victory lifted Madrid into the lead and three points ahead of second-place Barcelona before the defending champions host Granada on Sunday. Barcelona holds the tiebreaker with Madrid on goal difference.

Casemiro broke the deadlock with the first of his two goals in the 57th minute when he was set up by Luka Jovic.

Sevilla striker Luuk de Jong, who had a goal ruled out by a video review in the first half, leveled in the 64th before Casemiro headed the hosts back in front five minutes later.

“(I’m pleased) not only for the goals but also for the hard work of all the team against a great rival,” Casemiro said. “It was a typical Madrid-Sevilla (game). These three points are important.”

It was the first game back at the Santiago Bernabeu for Sevilla coach Julen Lopetegui, who was fired as Madrid’s manager last season after just 14 matches. Lopetegui has impressed this season with Sevilla, which has the best away record in the competition. Sevilla is in fourth place.

Sevilla’s players greeted Madrid with an honor guard before kickoff for its victory at the Spanish Super Cup, played last week in Saudi Arabia.

Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane left Karim Benzema on his bench until the final half-hour after the striker’s left leg injury had kept him out of the Spanish Super Cup. Jovic started in Benzema’s place and was not a significant presence until he set up Casemiro’s opener.

Sevilla outplayed Madrid in the first half and thought it had gone ahead in the 30th when De Jong headed in a corner kick. But the referee reversed his initial decision to allow the goal after consulting a video review, when he spotted a foul by Nemanja Gudelj on Madrid defender Éder Militão.

Lopetegui’s team threatened again from a set piece minutes later when Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois had to save a volley by Munir El Haddadi from a free kick.

The second half, however, was Madrid’s thanks to Casemiro’s incursions in attack.

Casemiro showed an exquisitely fine touch for a midfielder known for his defensive skills when he scooped the ball over goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik from a tight angle. Jovic had set him up with a superb pass with the back of his heel to finally find a way through Sevilla’s defense.

De Jong hit right back with a well-placed strike into the corner of the net.

Casemiro headed in his second goal from a cross by Lucas Vázquez after he found a hole between Sevilla’s two center backs in one of the visitors’ few defensive lapses.

Substitute striker Youssef En-Nesyri, who debuted for Sevilla following his transfer from Leganés, squandered a chance to score late after he recovered possession from Vázquez and fired wide.

Madrid defender Sergio Ramos was unavailable due to a leg injury that he is expected to recover from soon. Madrid was also without suspended midfielder Federico Valverde and Gareth Bale, who was left off the squad after missing the Spanish Super Cup due to illness. Eden Hazard has been out for weeks with a lower leg injury.

Sevilla was without suspended forward Lucas Ocampos.

Elsewhere, Alavés forward Aleix Vidal scored in the second half to secure a 1-0 win at Levante.