Sevilla temporarily moved level on points with Valencia in fourth spot in the Primera Division after scrapping to a scarcely deserved 2-1 victory at struggling Levante.
Kevin Gameiro opened the scoring after 10 minutes with a classy finish for the visitors and then provided the cross for Jose Antonio Reyes to double the lead in the 35th minute.
Levante coped admirably despite the two-goal deficit and pulled a goal back through Kalu Uche with 17 minutes remaining, but could not prise open Sevilla again, and remain just three points above the relegation zone.
The hosts made a more energetic start to the game and had Sevilla pinned back into their area in the opening stages, but Unai Emery's side looked dangerous on the break, with Gameiro volleying high over the bar after a long punt upfield.
But the Frenchman then gave the visitors the lead by finishing off a slick break which owed a lot to the quick thinking of Reyes.
The former Arsenal man received the ball from Vicente Iborra 30 yards from goal and spotted Gameiro advancing to the right of the box, slipping the ball into his path, and he arrowed the ball in off the far post.
Levante maintained their intensity after conceding but were limited to long-range efforts, with neither Momo Sissoko nor Jose Luis Morales able to find the target although Nabil El Zhar's powerful effort forced Sevilla goalkeeper Sergio Rico into an acrobatic save.
But it was Sevilla who scored next, yet again making the most of their rare surges forward.
This time Gameiro and Reyes swapped roles, with the Frenchman coming down the left and beating the offside trap then rolling the ball across the box towards his captain, who smashed it beyond Diego Marino at the near post.
Emery's side could even have scored a third a couple of minutes before half-time from Nico Pareja's free-kick, which Marino managed to get a fingertip to and push onto the crossbar.
Levante were even more dominant in the second period and after squandering several chances they finally pulled a goal back, with Uche flicking Ruben Garcia's cross onto the far post and over the line.
Sevilla awoke again late on in the game and could have put the game out of sight, with Marino producing a fine reaction save to keep out Iborra's stinging effort and substitute Carlos Bacca rattling the bar.
Levante kept on pushing for an equaliser but their last half-chance was blasted over the bar by Ruben Garcia, allowing Sevilla to record a fifth consecutive league win.