It was a breathtaking game of football as ten men Sevilla picked up a 3-1 win over Atletico Madrid to join Barcelona at the top of La Liga.
Sevilla came out as if they were playing the final twenty minutes of their lives, and took the game by the scruff of it's neck, and barely offered time to sit back.
The first goal came after some sustained pressure from them, when a defence-splitting pass from Daniel Alves found Kanoute in the 15th minute, and the Mali international raced onto it to beat an onrushing Leo Franco.
Jesus Navas created the second six minutes later, going into the area up the right, and passing it back to Alves after dragging defenders towards him.
The Brazilian did not let all that work come to nothing, and crashed a fierce drive into the far corner from the edge of the box.
The almost picked up a third when good build-up involving Brazilians Alves and Fabiano saw Puerta in space. However, the Spanish under-21 international sent it wide.
Sevilla were threatening to run riot, and a third was only a matter of time, it seemed.
But that was when tragedy struck, as they went down to ten men in the 36th minute (following a la Beckham hack from Marti). It was a decision that turned out to set the game up wonderfully!
Sevilla refused to lie low, and went for the kill, with a Daniel Alves free-kick being headed just over the bar - by an alert Fernando Torres. Luis Fabiano was sacrificed for Poulsen, as Juande Ramos reinforced his midfield just before the break.
Juande Ramos' boys then held their own against some intense Atleti pressure in the second half - with both sides trading blows - and finally responded with a third through a Kanoute header in the 73rd minute to seal the game.
Atleti pulled one back with ten minutes to go as Pablo tapped in after Palop saved a Torres penalty - won by Aguero - but there was never really a realistic threat.
Sevilla join Barcelona at the top of the table, looking the best side of the weekend by some distance, after a slow start to the new year had raise questions about their title credentials.
Sevilla: Palop - Alves, Ocio, Escude, David - Navas (Hinkel), Marti, Renato, (Duda) - Fabiano (Poulsen), Kanoute.
Atletico Madrid: Leo Franco - Seitaridis, Perea, Pablo, Pernia - Maniche, Luccin (Jurado), Costinha (Gabi) - Mista (Galleti), Torres, Aguero
Goals: 1-0 (Kanoute, 15'), 2-0 (Alves, 21'), 3-0 (Kanoute, 73'), 3-1 (Aguero, 81', pen.)
Goal.com - Primera Liga Report: Ten Men Sevilla Go Top With Thrilling Win