MADRID — Real Madrid midfielders Casemiro and Luka Modric struck late to earn a 2-0 home win over Sevilla as Santiago Solari's stuttering side leapfrogged the Andalusians into third spot in La Liga Saturday.

Brazilian Casemiro unleashed a stinging shot from outside the area which was too powerful for outstretched goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik, giving the European champion a deserved lead in the 78th minute after it dominated the second half.

Teenage forward Vinicius Jr was again Madrid's most dangerous outlet and had come close to breaking the deadlock with a scooping shot that just crept wide of the post before Casemiro finally broke the deadlock.

Dani Ceballos, the match-winner in last week's scrappy 2-1 victory at Real Betis, had also earlier hammered the bar as Madrid took the game by the scruff of the neck at a rainy and cold Santiago Bernabeu after a drab first half of few chances.

Modric finally sealed the victory in stoppage time with a cool finish, giving Solari's team a second straight win after their poor start to 2019.

Madrid climbed to third on 36 points, three ahead of Sevilla which has failed to win in its last four league outings, while Barca, which hosts Leganes Sunday, is top with 43. — Reuters