Deportivo La Coruna overcame Racing Santander as Athletic Bilbao beat Almeria away from home.
The latest round of Primera Liga fixtures was dominated by the first El Clasico of the season and it was Barcelona who came out on top against Real Madrid.
Elsewhere, Deportivo consolidated fifth place with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Racing Santander.
There was nothing to separate the sides until Alberto Lopo scored the decisive goal 14 minutes from time.
Bilbao kept up their fine form with a thumping 4-1 success at Almeria to tighten their grip on eighth place.
Javier Martinez and Ustaritz struck before half-time for Bilbao and Fernando Llorente and Oscar De Marcos inflicted further damage in the second period.
Kalu Uche pulled a goal back for Almeria in the closing stages but it was far too little too late.
Atletico Madrid climbed out of the relegation after beating Espanyol 4-0 to pick up only their second league win of the campaign.
Diego Forlan netted the opening goal after 27 minutes and Sergio Aguero then got in on the act with a second-half brace (62 and 85).
Maxi Rodriguez added a late fourth, while Espanyol's Facundo Roncaglia was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence.
Getafe were the big winners of the day as they coasted to a 5-1 triumph at home to bottom club Xerez.
Aythami surprisingly fired Xerez in front after 33 minutes, only for Roberto Soldado to equalise in the 44th minute.
The turning point then came just before half-time when David Prieto was sent off for a foul and Soldado slotted home the resulting penalty.
Soldado completed his hat-trick after the interval as Getafe made the most of their extra man, with Daniel Parejo and Javier Casquero also finding the target.
Tenerife staged a remarkable fightback to come back from 3-0 down and hold Real Valladolid to a draw.
Diego Costa notched twice for Valladolid, either side of a Fabian Canobbio penalty, to put them in total control going into the final half hour.
However, Nino reduced Tenerife's arrears in the 63rd minute and late goals from Rodriguez Angel and Garcia Ayoze rescued an unlikely point.
Osasuna returned to winning ways after a run of poor results as Javad Nekounam's early effort sealed a 1-0 victory away to Real Zaragoza.
a.top_betting_link_1 {background-image: url('/Images/skysports/fixturecal/icons/fix-bet.gif');background-repeat:no-repeat;background-position:0% 50%;padding-left:18px;}La Liga 2009/10. Click here to bet.Primera Liga round-upSaunders puts in remarkable effort in MLS Cup 2009
