MADRID (AFP) - Sevilla got their first win of 2007 after coming out on top 4-2 in a six-goal thriller at Levante.

The result means that the UEFA Cup champions will regain pole position in the Spanish first division if reigning champions Barcelona drop points at home to Celta Vigo later on Sunday.

Fredi Kanoute put Sevilla ahead after 35 minutes, the Mali striker hammering home an Alexandr Kerzhakov pass for his 16th goal of the season.

Kerzhakov himself then got on the scoresheet 10 minutes after the break, connecting with an Alejandro Alfaro cross, his first goal for his new club since moving to Spain from Zenit St Petersburg earlier this month.

The Russian striker had an outstanding game and has had something to prove after Russia coach Guus Hiddink left him out of the squad to face the Netherlands in a friendly next month.

Levante midfielder Damiano Tommasi then turned an Alfaro shot into his own net midway through the second half to put Sevilla in command but the hosts then nearly pulled off a remarkable comeback.

Frederic Dehu and Gustavo Reggi headed Levante back into contention with two goals in five minutes before Alfaro calmed Sevilla´s nerves and completed their quartet of goals with a 76th-minute header.

At the other end of the table, bottom club Gimnastic Tarragona got their biggest win of the season with a 4-0 thrashing of Espanyol.

The scoring spree opened after just eight minutes when former Real Madrid striker Javier Portillo found the net with a header.

Alejandro Campano added a penalty 10 minutes later and a left foot shot from close range by Antonio Pinilla after 25 minutes put Gimnastic 3-0 up and well on their way to just their third win of the season.

Cesar Navas headed Gimnastic´s fourth just before the break but they eased off in the second half and didn´t add anymore to their account.

Despite the win, just their third of the season, Gimnastic remain at the foot of the table and are still overwhelming favourites to be relegated but they closed the gap on Real Sociedad who are immediately above them.

Sociedad added to their humiliating season by being beaten 2-0 at home in the Basque derby match with local rivals Athletic Bilbao.

Athletic midfielder Andoni Iraola got both goals, his first coming after 12 minutes with a left-foot half volley from the edge of the area and his second 21 minutes before the end was a half volley from almost exactly the same place but this time with his right foot.

Real Sociedad are now starting to face the real prospect of second division football for the first time in more than 40 years.

By contrast, Athletic have improved since the arrival of Mane Esnal as coach eight weeks ago.

Real Zaragoza stay in sixth place despite being held to a 1-1 draw by Deportivo La Coruna.

Sebastian Taborda headed Deportivo ahead after 21 minutes.

However, the Uruguayan midfielder went from hero to villain when he brought down Diego Milito in the box 11 minutes from the whistle and the Argentine striker got his 13th goal of the season from the resulting penalty.

Into the bargain, Taborda was sent off after only just recovering his place in Deportivo´s starting lineup after several weeks on the sidelines.

Getafe are just behind Zaragoza on goal difference after beating Osasuna 2-0, with both goals coming from Daniel Guiza.

Real Madrid went down 1-0 at Villarreal on Saturday, losing to their opponents for the first time.

The only goal of the game came from Villarreal´s teenage striker Marcos Garcia after 67 minutes but Real stay in third despite the loss although they will slip back a place if Valencia win at Real Betis later on Sunday.