Sevilla ended Real Mallorca's perfect home record with a 3-1 away on Saturday night.

Mallorca had won all of their previous 10 league matches at their Ono Estadi and they could hardly have had a better start with Mario Suarez putting them ahead in just the fifth minute.

However, that advantage was shortlived as Sevilla deservedly drew level in the 23rd minute when Jesus Navas capitalised on a misjudgement from Mallorca goalkeeper Dudu Aouate to score.

A topsy-turvy game then looked to be favouring Mallorca again when, two minutes after Navas' goal, visiting striker Alvaro Negredo was shown a straight red card for a challenge on former Sevilla midfielder Jose Luis Marti - the Spain forward's second dismissal in three games.

That was evened up before half-time though as Mallorca defender Ivan Ramis was also handed his marching orders following a crunching foul on Didier Zokora, leaving both teams with 10 players heading into the second half.

There was little to separate the teams before the break but it was Sevilla who took control in the second half, aided by another error by Aouate.

The Israel international advanced too far from his line as Ivica Dragutinovic's free-kick from near the right touchline curled in towards the net, and he found himself stranded as the ball cleared him and found the top corner.

That was in the 56th minute and five minutes later Sevilla made it 3-1 through substitute Diego Perotti, sealing a win that leaves the Andalusian side five points clear of sixth-placed Mallorca in the race for the Champions League spots.

Sevilla also had Zokora dismissed late on for a second yellow card for comments he made to the linesman, but it was too little too late to help Mallorca save their proud home record.

Gregorio Manzano's side came into the match looking to bounce back from their 1-0 defeat at second-bottom Tenerife on Monday night and they were handed a flying start by Suarez, who slotted home Borja Valero's low cross.

Sevilla must have feared the worst at that point, especially as Mallorca had only conceded three goals at home this season previously, but Manolo Jimenez's men hit back well.

Negredo tested Aouate with a free-kick before the former Deportivo La Coruna goalkeeper produced a remarkable save to claw the ball off Dirnei Renato's head when the Brazilian looked certain to nod into an empty net.

Aouate went from hero to villain soon after though as Sevilla equalised.

Mallorca almost scored themselves at one end, Palop saving Aritz Aduriz's deflected header, but from the loose ball Negredo played a long pass forward that Aouate raced 30 yards out of his goal to try to clear.

He was beaten to the ball by the quicksilver Navas though, and the Spain winger rolled his shot into an empty net.

Both sides were then reduced to 10 men, with Negredo and Ramis receiving their marching orders, before Sevilla took control after half-time with those goals from Dragutinovic and Perotti.

Mallorca tried their best to get back into the match with substitute Pierre Webo featuring heavily late on, but the Balearic Island outfit could find no way back, even with the added help of Sevilla being reduced to nine men when Zokora was sent off.