MADRID (AFP) - Sevilla kept in touch with league leaders Barcelona after a hard-fought 2-0 win over struggling Celta Vigo on Sunday, although they remain in second place in La Liga on goal difference.

The leading pair in the Spanish first division both have 53 points from 27 games after Barca thrashed Recreativo Huelva 4-0 on Saturday.

Second half goals from the Sevilla striker force of Fredi Kanoute and Aleksander Kerzhakov, the first from the penalty spot and the latter three minutes into injury time, secured three points for the 2006 UEFA Cup winners.

Kanoute got his 19th goal of the season, and consolidated his position as the Spanish first division's leading scorer, after Gustavo Lopez had handled the ball in the area.

Kerzakakov then connected with an Enzo Maresca in the dying seconds to ensure there were no last gasp shocks by Celta.

Celta, who are just one place and one point above the relegation zone, were down to 10 men for the final 17 minutes after Nestor Canobbio had kicked Jesus Navas in the face with a wild and very high challenge.

Real Madrid moved up to third with a 2-0 win over Gimnastic Tarragona but are five points behind the leading pair.

Gimnastic were down to 10 men after just seven minutes when defender Cesar Navas was harshly sent off after having been adjudged to have fouled Ruud van Nistelrooy.

However, Real's wastefulness in front of goal meant that they had to wait until 11 minutes after the break before Robinho broke the deadlock.

David Garcia unluckily headed into his own goal nine minutes before the end gave Real a comfortable advantage in the end although it was a far from convincing display from the 29-times Spanish champions.

"In the second half we were playing against 10 men and after running a lot during the first half they (Gimnastic) paid for it," said Real coach Fabio Capello.

"Many times against teams with 10 men you can't play the way you want. We were too slow and not playing well (in the first half) but the second half was completely different. I was satisfied at the end," added Capello.

Valencia slip back a place to fourth after the 2002 and 2004 champions were surprisingly beaten 2-0 at home by Racing Santander on Saturday.

Real Zaragoza remain fifth but maintained their hopes of playing in the Champions League for the first time by battling their way to a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid earlier on Sunday.

"We worked hard, our play wasn't inspired or particularly pretty but we did beat a good side," acknowledged Zaragoza coach Victor Fernandez.

Diego Milito got the only goal of the game, his 17th of the season, after 20 minutes to give Zaragoza the perfect birthday present as the club was celebrating its 75th anniversary.

At the other end of the table, bottom club Real Sociedad's got a valuable point with a 1-1 draw at Villarreal but still face playing in the Spanish second division next season for the first time in 40 years.

Savio put Sociedad ahead after 40 minutes when a loose ball fell to the former Brazilian international whose right foot shot found the target from 10 metres.

Josico Moreno saved Villarreal's blushes with a 58th minute equaliser, heading home a Marcos Garcia corner.

Antonio Barragan showed again that he is one of the brightest Spanish prospects for the future when he got the winner in Deportivo La Coruna's 1-0 win over Getafe.

The 19 year-old wing back, a likely star of the Under-20 World Cup this summer, sent his low shot from the edge of the area past Getafe keeper Pato Abbondanzieri, the safest pair of hands in the top flight of Spanish football this season.

Barca won their first away game in La Liga for four months with an emphatic 4-0 victory at Recreativo Huelva on Saturday.

Samuel Eto'o opened the scoring just three minutes into the game with a long, looping strike from 30 metres.

Gianluca Zambrotta got his first league goal for Barca six minutes before the break and Eto'o then added his second goal four minutes later before Lionel Messi completed Barca's quartet four minutes.