Wissam Ben Yedder hat trick lifts Sevilla into second place

Wissam Ben Yedder recorded a hat trick to help Sevilla move into second place in La Liga overnight with a 4-0 win at Real Sociedad.

Ben Yedder also set up substitute Pablo Sarabia before a stunned Anoeta Stadium, where Sociedad had not been beaten since losing to Real Madrid on the opening weekend of the season, but they were a shadow of the side which had climbed into the top six.

Sevilla gained the lead when Geronimo Rulli spilled Franco Vazquez's 25th-minute shot and Ben Yedder finished from a tight angle.

Four minutes later a Yuri Berchiche mistake allowed Vazquez to head the ball into Ben Yedder's path and he rounded Rulli before lashing the ball home.

Rulli atoned for his earlier error by foiling Samir Nasri and Sergio Escudero, but Aritz Elustondo's miskick saw Ben Yedder slip Sarabia through after 73 minutes.

Ben Yedder had scored a Copa Del Rey hat trick against Formentera just before the Christmas break, and the Frenchman repeated the feat seven minutes from time for his 15th goal of the season.

Sevilla have won three in a row in the league while outscoring opponents 11-1.