Malaga boosted their survival hopes with a shock victory over Real Mallorca while Espanyol overcame fellow strugglers Almeria.
Malaga claimed only their second victory of the season as UEFA Champions League hopefuls Real Mallorca were undone at La Rosaleda.
Fernando Miguel fired the home side in front in the 24th minute only for Julio Alvarez to level for the visitors 11 minutes into the second period.
But substitute Fernando Forestieri stepped off to fire home the winning goal 13 minutes from time to claim three crucial points.
Espanyol halted a run of five successive defeats with a 2-0 home victory over Almeria to move four points clear of the relegation places.
Javi Marquez made the vital breakthrough for the hosts on the stroke of half-time, with their success sealed by substitute Ferran Corominas' 82nd-minute effort.
Real Valladolid were also indebted to one of their replacements with Haris Medunjanin emerging from the bench to hit a last-gasp winner against Sporting Gijon.
Luis Moran had put visitors Gijon ahead in the 13th minute before Nivaldo levelled for the hosts just before the half-hour mark.
Villarreal took the points from their meeting with struggling Racing Santander as Giuseppe Rossi (51) and Joseba Llorente (72) found the net.
Atletico Madrid had goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo to thank for a 1-1 draw at Tenerife as he saved a first-half penalty from Nino.
It was Nino who in only the third minute had given Tenerife the lead as he prodded home from close range a well worked set-piece. Jose Manuel Jurado was Atletico's saviour as he netted a leveller on 22 minutes before Nino blotted his copybook from 12 yards just before half-time.
Deportivo La Coruna and Valencia shared the spoils in an entertaining match at the Riazor in Sunday's late game.
Both coaches will be left feeling frustrated after watching their men waste a sackful of chances.
Depor were unlucky not to be granted two penalties late on in the first half, while Juan Rodriguez saw his header crash off the crossbar as both sides had to settle for a stalemate.
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