Atletico Madrid move up to second in the Primera Division after recording a narrow yet deserved 1-0 victory at Real Betis.
Koke's seventh-minute goal proved enough for Diego Simeone's side to take all three points from their trip to the Benito Villamarin stadium, though the visitors wasted several opportunities to put the game to bed.
The win sees the Rojiblancos leapfrog rivals Real Madrid in the table - after their drubbing at the hands of Barcelona on Saturday - with the 2013-14 champions now sitting four points behind leaders Barca, while Betis remain in 12th.
Left-back Jaume Costa scored a late equaliser to earn Villarreal a 1-1 draw against Eibar at El Madrigal, where both teams finished with 10 men.
Sergio Enrich volleyed the visitors ahead and Villarreal goalkeeper Alphonse Areola prevented the hosts from going into the break 2-0 down when he saved Dani Garcia's penalty.
After Villarreal substitute Daniele Bonera was forced off with injury, having already made all three substitutions, Eibar winger Keko evened up the numbers by picking up two quick yellow cards.
With just five minutes left defender Costa got behind on the overlap to stab the ball in off the far post.
Levante made the most of Sporting Gijon's defensive frailties to beat the Asturian side 3-0 at El Molinon and pick up their first win under coach Rubi.
Brazilian forward Deyverson scored twice either side of a strike by Morocco international Zouhair Feddal to give the visitors an unassailable three-goal lead before half-time, while Sporting's Jony had a penalty saved in the second half.
The victory was just the second win for Levante this season and lifts them up to 18th, while Sporting slumped to a fourth successive defeat and drop down to 15th place, although just two points better off than Levante.
Granada saw off Athletic Bilbao 2-0 to pick up their first win since August and move out of the relegation zone.
An own goal by Aymeric Laporte after just five minutes put the hosts on their way to victory and Isaac Success made sure of the points by scoring on the volley just before the hour mark, ending Athletic's five-game winning streak in all competitions.
Before Barca's emphatic victory at the Bernabeu on Saturday evening Real Sociedad coach Eusebio Sacristan a winning start in a 2-0 success at home to stuttering Sevilla, thanks to goals from Imanol Agirretxe and Xabi Prieto.
