MADRID: Kepa Blanco scored three goals and Frederic Kanoute added another for Sevilla to thump newly promoted Levante 4-0 in its Spanish league opener on Tuesday.

The emphatic victory came four days after UEFA Cup champion Sevilla trounced FC Barcelona 3-0 in Monte Carlo to win the European Super Cup.

Levante's defeat came in its first topflight game since the 2004-05 season.

Mali international striker Kanoute cheered the crowd at Sevilla's Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in the ninth minute by profiting from a mistake by Levante's recently signed Brazilian defender Alvaro Maior to fire his side into the lead.

The visitor, under former Real Madrid coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro, fell further behind 19 minutes later when striker Blanco dived to head a cross from the right by Brazilian wing-back Daniel Alves.

Blanco then lifted his shot into the roof of the net to double his tally in the 51st minute after Levante's Argentine goalkeeper Pablo Cavallero failed to cut out another Alves cross.

Blanco's header goal just before the final whistle completed his hat-trick.

The national television broadcast was cancelled after Sevilla prohibited coverage of any of its league and Copa del Rey games this season due to its unhappiness with the financial offer it has received from the broadcaster. — AP

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