STOKE: Stoke mastered the elements better than visitors Fulham to climb back into the top half of the Premier League with a 3-2 win at a snow-covered Britannia Stadium here on Tuesday. Tony Pulis's side seized control of the encounter after Tuncay Sanli had headed them into an early lead and further strikes from Abdoulaye Faye and Mamady Sidibe gave them a commanding three-goal advantage by half-time.Damien Duff pulled a goal back for Fulham just after the hour mark and a Clint Dempsey strike five minutes from time made things frantic at the end, but Stoke were able to hold out for a win that lifts them to 10th in the table. The evening had not started auspiciously for Stoke with their Danish goalkeeper, Thomas Sorensen, suffering an injury. But once the action got underway they were quickly into their stride and Matt Etherington had the ball in the net after only two minutes only to see his effort ruled out for offside. The home fans, however, only had to wait 10 more minutes for their side to take the lead from a corner. Robert Huth flicked Etherington's inswinging delivery on to the far post and Tuncay was on hand to beat Mark Schwarzer from close range. Stoke doubled their lead when another excellent cross from Etherington enabled Faye to slide in at the far post to score. Three minutes later Stoke were 3-0 up after a flowing move down their left involving both Tuncay and Etherington, whose cross was flicked on for Sidibe to score with a fine half-volley. It seemed inconceivable that Stoke could surrender their lead but they flirted with disaster after Duff gave Fulham a lifeline with a 61st-minute drive that beat stand-in goalkeeper Steve Simonsen with the help of a deflection off Ryan Shawcross. Dempsey had provided the pass for Duff's strike on goal and the American demonstrated he knows how to finish as well with a stunning, dipping volley from over 30 yards that found the net with five minutes left. Copa del Rey BARCELONA: Sevilla beat defending champion Barcelona 2-1 in the Copa del Rey round of 16 on Tuesday. Sevilla went ahead in Barcelona's Camp Nou in the 61st minute when Diego Perotti dribbled past Daniel Alves and crossed, and Renato tapped the ball on for Diego Capel to smash home. Barcelona equalised through substitute Zlatan Ibrahimovic in a 75th-minute counterattack, but Alvaro Negredo scored from the penalty spot after Diego Capel was brought down in the area.