Alvaro Negredo struck twice to fire Sevilla to a 2-1 home win over third-placed Valencia Sunday and lift the Andalusians to fourth in Liga. Valencia's setback meant leader Barcelona and Real Madrid pulled further away at the top following victories at Sporting Gijon and Deportivo Coruna Saturday. Undefeated Barca has 52 points from 20 matches, Real 47, Valencia 39 and Sevilla 36. Atletico Madrid's miserably erratic season took another turn for the worse Sunday when it lost 2-0 at home to Malaga and was whistled off. Villarreal lost 2-0 at home to Osasuna, a defeat that cost coach Ernesto Valverde his job. Bottom club Xerez secured only its second win of the campaign, coming from a goal down at home to beat Real Mallorca 2-1. Mallorca slipped to fifth, level on 34 points with Depor in sixth, while seventh-placed Getafe was held to a 0-0 draw at home by Racing Santander. Also Saturday, relegation candidate Zaragoza beat Tenerife 3-1 and Valladolid drew 1
