A header from Martin Caceres just before half-time gave Sevilla a 2-1 victory at Malaga in their Primera Division Andalusian derby.

The Uruguay defender - signed from Barcelona on loan late last month - scored from a free-kick to propel his side to second place in the table after three rounds of matches. Malaga had earlier taken the lead through Jose Rondon, but the home side were pegged back just five minutes later as Alejandro Alfaro levelled.

And Caceres popped up to head the winner on the stroke of half-time to continue Sevilla's promising league form. Antonio Alvarez's side had picked up four points from their opening two matches, but lost at home to Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night.

Malaga, meanwhile, came into this match on the back of a stunning 5-3 victory at Zaragoza last weekend. The home side started well and Eliseu Pereira forced Sevilla keeper Andres Palop into a fine save after four minutes.

And exactly 10 minutes later, Palop could do nothing to prevent the locals from taking the lead when he was beaten by Rondon after parrying a header from Kris Stadsgaard. Malaga's joy was short-lived, however, as Sevilla hit back just five minutes later.

Diego Perotti went past Jesus Gamez and sent in a deep cross to the far post for Alfaro, who headed in from close range. Both sides missed good chances in the remainder of the half, but Caceres popped up to head home Tiberio Guarente's free-kick just before the interval and the Uruguayan's effort proved enough to win all three points.

Alvaro Negredo hit the bar for Sevilla in the second period, but the scores remained the same, meaning four of the five Primera Division matches played today ended in 2-1 wins for the away sides.