Real Madrid moved to the top of the table on goal difference following a thrilling victory over Sevilla after defending champions Barcelona had dropped points at Almeria, while Deportivo La Coruna defeated Tenerife.
Aware of Barcelona's stumble, Real Madrid aimed to take full advantage in Saturday's late kick-off, but the in-form Galacticos were forced to come from two goals down to earn a pulsating 3-2 win over UEFA Champions League hopefuls Sevilla.
A clumsy own goal from Xabi Alonso gave the visitors a 10th minute lead at the Bernabeu and a tame Ivica Dragutinovic free-kick then bizarrely left Iker Casillas flat-footed in the 53rd minute.
However, Cristiano Ronaldo sparked Real's comeback when he finished a deflected Marcelo pass in the 60th minute and Sergio Ramos headed an equaliser from a corner four minutes later.
Real were then rampant and Gonzalo Higuain twice hit the woodwork before substitute Rafael van der Vaart scrambled a winner in injury time to start wild celebrations.
Lionel Messi had been Barcelona's saviour as the Argentine star scored two equalisers to ensure his side, who had Zlatan Ibrahimovic sent off, at least earned a 2-2 draw with Almeria.
Domingo Cisma had put Almeria in front in the 12th minute, but Barca's mercurial No.10 restored parity with an excellent free-kick three minutes before half-time.
Barcelona centre-back Carles Puyol, though, then scored a calamitous own goal in the 57th minute to allow 13th-placed Almeria to regain the lead.
Things went from bad to worse for Barca as Ibrahimovic was shown a red card in the 61st minute for an off-the-ball clash, but Messi rescued his side a point five minutes later.
Deportivo boosted their hopes of a return to European competition with a comfortable 3-1 win over relegation-threatened Tenerife.
Miguel Angel Lotina's side had to come from behind to win the points, though, as Juanlu Hens gave the Canary Islanders a shock lead after 17 minutes.
Juan Rodriguez levelled with a header shortly after the half-hour mark and second-half strikes from Andres Guardado and Diego Colotto ensured all three points for the Galicians.
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