Match report from Cordoba v Sevilla

Carlos Bacca bagged a brace as Sevilla maintained pace with the Primera Division leaders after a 3-1 victory at Cordoba.

Carlos Bacca bagged a brace as Sevilla maintained pace with the Primera Division leaders after a 3-1 victory at Cordoba.

Unai Emery's men were just too strong for the promoted side as Bacca struck early on and from the penalty spot at the death either side of Stephane Mbia's header.

Borja Garcia Freire's late effort represented little consolation for the home side.

Sevilla started in determined fashion and took the lead with less than eight minutes on the clock having already called Cordoba goalkeeper Juan Carlos into action to turn Bacca's shot around the post.

The frontman was not to be denied and he was in the right place at the right time six yards out from goal to convert Aleix Vidal's pass.

Sevilla keeper Sergio Rico had to tip over an 11th-minute cross from Inigo Lopez as Cordoba responded, and Federico Cartabia sent a 25-yard free-kick over the bar on the half-hour mark.

The visitors returned for the second half in determined fashion with Carlos having to parry Bacca's lobbed 58th-minute effort.

Although Rico had to be equally alert to repel midfielder Abel Gomez's 30-yard free-kick nine minutes later, it was the visitors who extended their lead 18 minutes from time.

Denis Suarez picked out Mbia with an inswinging free-kick from the left and he headed home from six yards.

Cordoba gave themselves hope when Garcia reduced the deficit with seven minutes remaining, but Bacca extinguished it from the spot following Aleksandar Pantic's 83rd-minute foul on Vitolo.