Cristiano Ronaldo had a mixed evening at the Santiago Bernabeu as Real Madrid beat Malaga to move back to within five points of Barcelona.
Former Manchester United star Ronaldo scored a first-half brace, and was then sent off in the second period, as Real beat Malaga 2-0 at home.
Ronaldo broke the deadlock on 35 minutes and, four minutes later, added the second with a stunning 25-yard effort.
However, he blotted his copybook with 20 minutes to go after he was dismissed for elbowing Patrick Mtiliga in the face.
Despite Tenerife starting the day in the bottom three, Valencia were unable to find a way past and were forced to settle for a 0-0 draw.
Mallorca were another team to pick up a point on the road, with the 1-1 stalemate at Espanyol enough to lift them back into the UEFA Champions League places.
Espanyol took the lead just four minutes after half-time when Pablo Daniel Osvaldo finished after his initial shot had been blocked.
The visitors snatched a point 10 minutes from time when Borja Valero scored from the penalty spot after Ruben had been felled by Victor Ruiz.
Atletico Madrid crashed to another defeat after going down 1-0 away to derby rivals Getafe.
The only goal came on 39 minutes when Manu converted Pedro Leon's low cross at the far post, while Atletico had Paulo Assuncao sent off on 68 minutes for picking up a second yellow card.
Alex Geijo converted Mohamed Tchite's cross a minute before half-time to clinch Racing Santander a 1-0 success away to Sporting Gijon.
Villarreal continued their resurgence with a thumping 4-2 win at home over struggling Real Zaragoza, with the hosts scoring three times inside the opening 25 minutes.
Joan Capdevila scored from close range after just three minutes, Nilmar chipped in with the second on 19 minutes and Giuseppe Rossi then made it 3-0.
Zaragoza threatened a remarkable comeback in the second half as Eliseu pulled a goal back on 75 minutes and Lafita grabbed another on 82 minutes.
But with three minutes to go, Villarreal made certain of the points after Nilmar played in Ariel Ibagaza to score.
Xerez still have only one win to their name this season after the division's bottom club lost 2-1 at home to Osasuna.
Nacho Monreal provided Osasuna with a ninth minute lead before Xerez hit back on 22 minutes through Mario Bermejo's header.
However, Osasuna clinched all three points seven minutes from time after Juanfran teed up Javier Camunas for the winner.
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