Sevilla fought from two goals down to draw at Malaga, Atletico Madrid overcame Villarreal, Barcelona eased past Almeria while Racing Santander smashed struggling Numancia.
Malaga looked to be heading for three points against fellow high-fliers Sevilla after a brace from Ballesta Salva handed them a 2-0 advantage.
But former Tottenham forward Frederic Kanoute pulled one back for the visitors before Javier Calleja's dismissal proved costly as Brazilian attacker Luis Fabiano netted an 84th minute equaliser.
Atletico Madrid rose to fifth in the table with 3-2 success against Villarreal in an absorbing game at the Vicente Calderon.
Matias Fernandez and Ruben Garcia struck either side of half-time to give the visitors the lead but Sergio Aguero handed Atletico a lifeline with a goal on 53 minutes.
Javier Venta was then dismissed for the Yellow Submarine to award Atletico the impetus, and goals from Diego Forlan and Antonio Lopez made them pay.
Barcelona were comfortable 2-0 victors in their clash against mid-table Almeria at Mediterraneo Stadium.
Two second-half goals from highly-rated youngster Bojan Krkic ensured Barca restored their six-point lead over second-placed Real Madrid.
Racing Santander claimed an impressive 5-0 victory over relegation-threatened Numancia, with all of their goals coming in the opening 45 minutes.
Oscar Serrano, Peter Luccin and a brace from towering attacker Nikola Zigic put the game well beyond doubt before Serrano struck his second to compound Numancia's humiliation.
Bottom-of-the-table Espanyol and 16th-placed Real Mallorca played out a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Estadi Olimpic LluŠ½s Companys.
Juan Arango opened the scoring for Mallorca but substitute Juanmi Callejon's second-half strike made it 1-1.
Cleber Santana put Mallorca back in front before Espanyol's Hurtado Moises was dismissed for a second bookable offence.
Jose Manuel Jurado then seemingly put the game to bed but goals from Ivan De la Pena and Nene salvaged a dramatic point for Espanyol.
Sporting Gijon defeated Deportivo La Coruna 3-2 at El Molinon to dent Depor's hopes of a UEFA Champions League berth.
Sanchez Luis Moran broke the deadlock on 50 minutes before a penalty from David Barral Torres made it 2-0.
Depor were then awarded a spot-kick which Sergio Gonzales duly converted but Ferrera Jose Angel's effort restored Sporting Gijon's two-goal lead, as a Rikki penalty was too little, too late for the away side.
Real Valladolid edged out struggling Getafe, who had Pedro Marlo sent off, with Fabian Canobbio netting the only goal of the game.
Elsewhere, Real Betis and Osasuna played out a 0-0 stalemate at Estadio Manuel Ruiz de Lopera in a result that does neither side any real favours.
