UEFA Cup finalists Sevilla gave their hopes of competing in Europe next season a further boost by clinching a 2-1 victory on the road against nine-man Real Sociedad.

All fears of a European hangover evaporated after Jesus Navas gave the visitors the lead 12 minutes into the second period, while Jose Luis Marti doubled the advantage from the spot after 70 minutes before Jordi Lopez put through his own net to set up a nervy climax.

Sociedad defender Aitor Lopez Rekarte saw red for the foul that led to the penalty, while Nihat Kahveci compounded the home side's misery after receiving a straight red for a reckless challenge seven minutes from time.

Sevilla made a purposeful start to the match and might have gone ahead after just three minutes, Marti going close with a free-kick that was well saved by Asier Riesgo.

Julien Escude had another chance for Sevilla just two minutes later, but he lacked composure when presented with a good opportunity and sent the ball crashing wide of the target.

Mark Gonzalez then came close for Sociedad after nine minutes, but he miscued after Alvaro Novo's clever throw had played him in.

Sevilla's best chance of the first half fell to Lopez, who fired in an excellent free-kick that slammed against the upright, while Kepa Blanco went close with a bullet header just before the break.

A much livelier second period saw Adriano Correia almost make the breakthrough for the visitors after 53 minutes, but his shot from just inside the area skewed wide of the target.

But Sevilla didn't have to wait much longer for the opening goal, which came after 57 minutes when Navas set off on a fantastic run before finishing coolly beyond the advancing Riesgo.

With 20 minutes remaining, Sociedad's chances of mounting a fightback took a blow when Rekarte saw red for deliberate handball in the area, the resulting penalty despatched with aplomb by Marti.

Matters then lurched from bad to worse for Jose Mari Bakero's men after 83 minutes, as substitute Nihat received his marching orders following a dangerous tackle on Antonio Puerta, having only been on the pitch for 10 minutes.

Despite their two-man disadvantage, Sociedad grabbed a consolation after 87 minutes when the unfortunate Lopez found his own net after a mix-up in the visitors' defence.

Buoyed by this lucky break, Sociedad's remaining players pushed hard in the closing moments, in defiance of their numerical inferiority, but failed to muster any decent chances.

The defeat leaves the hosts casting an anxious backward glance at the relegation trap-door, and with an away game against second-bottom Cadiz coming up in midweek, Sociedad could easily find themselves sucked into a survival dogfight as the season draws to a close.