MADRID -- Coach Jorge Sampaoli felt Sevilla needed a big win against a top opponent to establish itself as a true contender in Spain.He got just that on Sunday as his team defeated previously unbeaten Atletico Madrid 1-0 to stay near the top of the Spanish league.French midfielder Steven NZonzi netted the winner in the 73rd minute at a packed Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium to give the hosts their third straight win.It was an important game to consolidate ourselves against a team that looked unbeatable, Sampaoli said. We did well against one of the best teams in the world. This victory makes me proud.Sevilla, which has won six straight at home, reached 20 points from nine rounds, one point behind Real Madrid, which is top after a 2-1 home win against Athletic Bilbao.Barcelona, which defeated Valencia 3-2 Saturday thanks to an injury-time penalty kick converted by Lionel Messi, is third with 19 points.Its going to be tight like this the entire season, Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said.There had been some early doubts about Sampaoli as Sevilla lost in the Spanish Super Cup to Barcelona and the UEFA Super Cup to Real Madrid. But after the up-and-down start, the Argentine coach has finally been able to put Sevilla on track. As well as contending in Spain, the Andalusian club is also in a good position to advance to the knockout stages of the Champions League.Atletico, which had the lead coming into the weekend, dropped to fifth place, three points behind Madrid.Diego Simeones team played with 10 men from the 77th on Sunday because of a second yellow card shown to midfielder Jorge Koke Resurreccion.Sampaoli made key adjustments at halftime, allowing his team to take control of the game and earn the hard-fought victory under pouring rain in Seville.NZonzi scored the winner on a fast breakaway, speeding past two defenders after receiving a great throughball from striker Luciano Vietto. The Frenchman entered the area and calmly sent a low shot into the far corner as Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak charged from the net.---REAL MADRID 2, ATHLETIC 1Real Madrid needed an 83rd-minute winner by substitute Alvaro Morata to earn a hard-fought win against Athletic Bilbao.Karim Benzema put Madrid ahead just seven minutes into the game at the Santiago Bernabeu, but Sabin Merino equalized in the 27th and held on for most of the match.Morata, celebrating his 24th birthday, scored from close range less than 10 minutes after replacing Benzema. Athletic goalkeeper Gorka Iraizoz made the initial save but Morata persisted and found the open net off the rebound.I feel like a 10-year-old, Morata said. We won and we are in the lead, it couldnt have been better.It was Madrids second straight win after three consecutive draws in the league.Madrid and Villarreal are the only unbeaten clubs in the league after nine rounds.Athletic is sixth on 15 points, six behind Madrid.---VILLARREAL 2, LAS PALMAS 1French striker Cedric Bakambu scored the winner in second-half injury time for Villarreal, but it was Las Palmas Kevin-Prince Boateng who attracted all the attention with a remarkable goal before halftime.Boatengs side volley from inside the area came after a mid-air, back-heel pass by Pedro Tana, who flicked the ball across the area for Boateng to shoot firmly into the corner.Still unbeaten in the league this season, Villarreal has won three of its last four games and is in fourth place with 19 points.---CELTA 4, DEPORTIVO 1Celta Vigo rebounded from two consecutive losses with a comfortable home win over Deportivo La Coruna behind a pair of goals by striker Iago Aspas.After a 4-3 loss to Barcelona and a 5-0 defeat against Villarreal, Celta cruised to victory against struggling Deportivo to move to eighth place with 13 points.The teams were tied 1-1 when Aspas converted a 60th-minute penalty kick. Chilean midfielder Fabian Orellana added to the lead in the 78th and Aspas closed the scoring in the 83rd at the Balaidos Stadium.Deportivo, which has lost four of its last five games, dropped to 17th in the 20-team standings.---Tales Azzoni on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tazzoni. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/tales-azzoni http://www.packersrookiestore.com/Packers-Nick-Perry-Jersey/ . Louis Cardinals. Victorino is batting sixth and playing right field after missing two games because of back tightness. http://www.packersrookiestore.com/Packers-Paul-Hornung-Jersey/ . Coach Mike Munchak says Fokou stretched ligaments in his left knee Oct. 13 against Seattle, which could keep out up to five weeks even though the linebacker didnt need surgery. http://www.packersrookiestore.com/Customized/ . -- The Bishops Gaiters are showing they belong among the countrys top varsity football teams. http://www.packersrookiestore.com/Packers-Davante-Adams-Jersey/ . Brad Jacobs and his Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., team took control of the game early. http://www.packersrookiestore.com/Packers-Mason-Crosby-Jersey/ . Burris threw two TD passes, including a key 15-yard fourth-quarter strike to Bakari Grant that effectively countered a Toronto comeback bid and led Hamilton to a 33-19 victory. No. 25 Cal and UC Irvine, who play each other Wednesday (11 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network) at Cals Haas Pavilion, have two things in common: Both blew out South Dakota State recently, and neither has had its best player available so far.In its only game, Cal (1-0) took apart South Dakota State 82-53, but the Bears did so without 6-foot-11 All-American forward Ivan Rabb. He sprained his toe three weeks ago on a closed scrimmage against St. Marys, and he has been limited since. Rabb did not receive medical clearance to play against the Jackrabbits and has been listed as day-to-day since.Hard to say when we expect him back. I dont think hell be out long, Cal coach Cuonzo Martin said after Fridays game. Hes been in practice but not contact.Cal returns three starters from last seasons 23-11 squad, but only one of them, Jabari Bird, was a starter against South Dakota State. Two newcomers started that game -- Grant Mullins, a graduate transfer from Columbia who scored 13 points, and freshman Charlie Moore, who struggled with 1-for-8 shooting but figures in Cals plans.Obviously the fact that he started could tell you that Charlies a good player, said Cal forward Roger Moute a Bidias, who came off the bench to score 12 points. As a freshman starting like that, thats big. Obviously he was a little bit nervous. He will be all right as he adjusts and gets used to it. I think he will be great for us.Point guard Sam Singer also came off the bench to score 14 points, sharing top team scoring honors with Bird, and it remains to be seen which playerrs Martin will put on the floor to start Wednesdays game.ddddddddddddThere is also uncertainty regarding UC Irvines starters. Irvine played its first two games without its only returning starter in Luke Nelson, an all-Big West first-team selection last year. Nelson is questionable for the game against Cal as well.Anteaters coach Russell Turner had hoped Nelson would return for Mondays game against South Dakota State, but again Nelson watched from the bench as guard Jaron Martin scored a career-high 24 and forward Jonathan Galloway collected a career-best 14 rebounds in a 73-58 victory over the Jackrabbits.Jaron Martin was the best player on the court today and often the team with the best player wins, Turner said, according to the Orange County Register.Irvine showed significant improvement from its performance in a 72-56 loss at home to Utah State in the season opener.When you get taken apart like we did on Friday night, I think everybody wondered a little bit, Turner said. That game was a blowout, but tonight we turned it around.Several Irvine freshmen showed promise. Freshman guard Eyassu Worku scored a team-high 11 points in the opener, and Worku and freshmen Max Hazzard and Evan Leonard combined for 23 points against South Dakota State.I have to remind myself that the guys we started havent started many games, Turner said after the opening loss. I do like how our freshmen came in and competed. Discount Jerseys NFL Jerseys Wholesale Cheap NFL T-shirts Cheap NFL Womens Jerseys Black China NFL Jerseys Disocunt Football Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Throwback Wholesale Jerseys From China Cheap NFL Jerseys Wholesale Wholesale NFL Womens Jerseys Cheap Stitched Jerseys Discount NFL Jerseys Black China NFL Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Store Stitched Jerseys ' ' '