Real Mallorca moved into fourth spot in the table with victory over Villarreal, while Sevilla lost 2-1 to Real Zaragoza.
Real Mallorca maintained their 100 per cent home record with a late 1-0 win over Villarreal thanks to Nunes' header eight minutes from time as Villarreal coach Juan Carlos Garrido suffered defeat in his first game in charge.
Real Zaragoza climbed out of the bottom three with a priceless 2-1 win over Sevilla at La Romareda.
Matteo Contini gave Zaragoza the lead on 31 minutes, but Fredi Kanoute drew Sevilla level just three minutes later.
Zaragoza were gifted the winner three minutes before the break when Alvaro Negredo put through his own net.
Negredo's night got worse when he was sent off eight minutes from time and Zaragoza's Perez Adrian Colunga and Sevilla's Marius Stankevicius both saw red in the closing stages.
Racing Santander and Atletico Madrid shared the spoils after a 1-1 draw at El Sardinero.
Diego Forlan gave Atletico the lead on 24 minutes when he scored from close-range after his initial shot came back off the post.
Gonzalo Colsa drew Racing level on 36 minutes after a mistake by Luis Perea
Ten-man Deportivo La Coruna battled to a goalless draw at Malaga to remain in sixth spot.
Pablo Alvarezwas was sent off for Depor after 38 minutes, but the visitors held on to grab a point.
Athletic Bilbao moved into seventh spot with a 3-2 victory over basement boys Xerex.
Bilbao got off to the perfect start with Iker Munain firing the home side in front after just two minutes, but Xerez turned the game on its head with goals from Vicente Moreno (10) and Mario Bermejo (41).
Spanish international Fernando Llorente drew Bilbao level on 64 minutes and he grabbed the winner four minutes from time.
Osasuna piled the misery on struggling Tenerife with a 1-0 win at the Reyno de Navarra thanks to Carlos Aranda's strike three minutes after the break.
Almeria boosted their survival hopes with a 3-1 victory over Sporting Gijon in a feisty encounter that saw both sides reduced to ten men.
Jose Manuel Chico was sent off for Almeria after 12 minutes and from the resulting penalty Diego Castro fired Sporting in front.
The lead proved short-lived as Albert Crusat drew Almeria level just three minutes later and Cisma Domingo fired the hosts in front two minutes before the break.
Chivas defeat Loyola Marymount in scrimmagePrimera Liga round-up
