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An early goal from Frederic Kanoute and a lucky finish from Renato Dirnei helped Sevilla to a 2-1 home victory over Almeria in La Liga.

Kanoute opened the scoring after just five minutes of quiet a first half that was dominated by the home side.

Renato's 62nd-minute near-botched finish established a two-goal lead before Alvaro Negredo pulled one back from the spot.

The home side held on, however, to earn the three points that gives them vital breathing space over fourth-placed Villarreal in the race for the final automatic qualification spot for the Champions League group stage.

Sevilla might have entered the stadium under a cloud after their Copa del Rey exit during the week, but they shook off the disappointment quickly as they took the lead with the very first chance of the match.

Koffi Ndri Romaric made a ranging run down the left before hitting a cross in to the well-marked Kanoute, and the striker did well to bring the ball down away from the defenders before launching a powerful finish that flew cleanly into the net.

The home side proceeded to dominate the remainder of the half - though they created few chances in the process, barring Jesus Navas's cross for Diego Perotti to try a header at the near post on 38 minutes.

Almeria seemed devoid of attacking flair throughout the first period, and when Sevilla again began to dominate at the start of the second half it seemed as if the home side would cruise to a straightforward win.

Yet a superb strike from Santos Iriney on 53 minutes - which drew an even better save from Andres Palop - seemed to give the visitors hope, and they came back into the match well.

Against the run of play, however, Sevilla doubled their lead on 62 minutes. Substitute Diego Capel broke upfield and released Kanoute on the right, with the striker - who looked clearly offside when receiving the ball - then crossing back for Renato.

The Brazilian did his level best to let Almeria off the hook as he tripped over his own feet, but the ball hit his trailing leg as he fell and looped high into the air, then, incredibly, dropped back down beneath the bar.

The comedy goal - one of the worst successful finishes you could hope to see - was hilarious for disinterested spectators but appalling luck for Almeria, who had looked on the verge of equalising at any moment.

Yet a penalty seven minutes later they responded as Almeria substitute Pablo Piatti made an excellent run into the box and was clearly tripped from behind by Sebastien Squillaci, leaving Negredo to pull one back with an excellent spot kick to the top-left corner.

Almeria did keep on pressing but were unable to get another clear chance on goal. And it was Sevilla, in fact, who came closest to scoring again: they would have had at least one more goal had Luis Fabiano's wastefulness not spoilt golden chances on 87 and 89 minutes, the striker shooting twice from tough angles when simple passes to the umarked Kanoute would have meant certain goals.

Ultimately, however, Sevilla were good value for their three points, and have now opened up a five-point margin over fourth-placed Villarreal, while Almeria look destined to finish the season in mid-table obscurity.

Cash-strapped Valencia's hopes of a place in next season's Champions League were dented when they surrendered the lead to lose 2-1 at relegation-threatened Numancia.

An error by goalkeeper Juan Pablo Colinas gifted Valencia a goal on 10 minutes when he spilled Vicente's tame long-range shot and the ball trickled into the net.

Carlos Aranda hooked in just before the break to equalise and Jose Barkero smashed home a free kick to give the home side valuable three points and move them off the bottom of the table above Espanyol.

Vicente almost made it 2-2 in added time but his low shot cannoned off the post and into the arms of Colinas.

Valencia, who have not won a match since early February, have delayed payments to players, suspended work on a new stadium and this week said they may have to sell prize assets such as Spain striker David Villa to raise cash.

Villa was sidelined for Sunday's match after he hurt his knee in training and the league's second-highest scorer with 19 goals is to have further tests.

Valencia slipped outside the European qualification places into seventh behind Deportivo la Coruna in fifth and Atletico Madrid in sixth. Depor thumped visiting Racing Santander 5-3, including four goals in 16 second-half minutes.

Elsewhere, Malaga moved up to fifth to keep their hopes of an unlikely European place alive with a 2-1 win at Getafe, Sporting Gijon pulled five points clear of relegation after winning 2-1 at Osasuna - who remain in 18th place, struggling duo Mallorca and Real Betis played out a 3-3 draw that leaves both clubs hovering above the drop zone and mid-table Valladolid won 3-2 at Recreativo Huelva.

Toby Keel / Eurosport