Karim Benzema made a dramatic late winner to seal Real Madrid's 3-2 win over Sevilla after LaLiga leaders scored two goals in the first half on the road on Sunday.
First-half goals from Ivan Rakitic and Erik Lamela put the hosts on their way, but Rodrigo, Nacho and a massive Benzema scored in the second half to give Carlo Ancelotti's side an unexpected victory.
The result puts predicted LaLiga champions Real Madrid 15 points ahead of second-placed Barcelona, who have one game on Monday and one more game in hand, while Los Blancos have six matches left to play.
"It doesn't mean more than three points, that's the reality," Nacho said after the match. “There is still a lot of league at stake, but on this ground, this opponent, how the game was at half-time, is fundamental to our morale. In the second half we were much better.
"Those are three very important points, above all the way we won them. The team showed a lot of character, with a tough scoreline here. We are very happy, those three points, but it doesn't mean anything. yet."
It was a story of two halves as Sevilla dominated at first, but disappeared after the break in a match that was marked by several controversial decisions by referee Guillermo Cuadra.
He refused to show Real's Eduardo Camavinga a second yellow card after 37 minutes for a foul from behind on Anthony Martial.
Vinicius Jr.'s equalizer was rejected for Real for a minor handball decision in the 78th minute after the referee sent VAR to the pitchside monitor.
Sevilla came to the fore early in the first half after two mistakes from Real defender Eder Militao in the space of four minutes.
First after Milito left a gaping hole, Rakitic fired a free kick through the Real Wall to open the scoring in the 21st, and four minutes later the Brazilian fired an unmarked Lamela to run Jesus Corona behind the defence. Allowed to cross 0.
Following Camavinga's close call to foul Martial, Ancelotti dropped the young French midfielder on the break for Rodrigo, a move that turned the game in Real's favor as the Brazilian made a stellar performance off the bench.
He scored Real's first goal in five minutes in the second half, starting the move that ended with fellow substitute Nacho in 82nd and second in 10 minutes and later home-out of the winner for LaLiga's top scorer Benzema. crossed to.
It was Benzema's 25th goal this season, his best tally in a single league campaign in his Real career - surpassing the 2015–16 season with 24 runs.
Sevilla's hopes of a late charge for the LaLiga title were officially dashed by Real's return, with Julen Lopetegui's side third behind Barcelona after 32 games.