SEVILLE, Oct 22 (SW) - A quick-fire Frédéric Kanouté double in the first half spurred Sevilla to a 2-1 victory over Gimnàstic in La Liga on Sunday.

Malian international Kanouté gave the reigning UEFA Cup holders the lead in the 21st minute with a stunning volley from a Jesús Navas cross, and he added a second goal just five minutes later again after a pass from Navas.

Sevilla should have made it 3-0 in the 53rd minute when Enzo Maresca had a penalty kick saved by Albano Bizzarri, and that seemed to spark Nastic just a bit.

David Cuellar put one past Andrés Palop in the 65th minute to give the visitors some hope, but the home side held on for the win.