Sevilla slump to Leganes defeat after United heroics

MADRID, March 18 (Reuters) - Sevilla suffered a hangover from their Champions League triumph over Manchester United as they lost 2-1 at mid-table Leganes in La Liga on Sunday, their sixth defeat in 12 league games under coach Vincenzo Montella.

Sevilla qualified for the quarter-finals of Europe's elite competition for the first time by beating United 2-1 at Old Trafford on Tuesday but went behind to Leganes four minutes before halftime to a looping header from defender Unai Bustinza.

Montella made three changes from the side that had stunned Old Trafford, giving a starting berth to Wissam Ben Yedder after he scored twice after coming off the bench on Tuesday, but his side rarely got going against Leganes.

Forward Javier Eraso side-footed home a second goal for the home side in the 69th minute and things got worse for Sevilla when midfielder Pablo Sarabia was sent off in the 84th for picking up two yellow cards inside 11 minutes.

Miguel Layun pulled a goal back for Sevilla in the 90th minute.

Sevilla are fifth in the Liga standings on 45 points, 12 behind fourth-placed Real Madrid and one ahead of Villarreal in sixth.

With the top four in Spain qualifying for the Champions League, Sevilla's best hope of getting into the competition next season may now rest on them beating Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals and going on to win the competition.

Villarreal host second-placed Atletico Madrid later on Sunday while Girona visit champions Real Madrid and runaway leaders Barcelona play at home to Athletic Bilbao.