Real Madrid kept the heat on at the top of the table with a 3-2 win over local rivals Atletico at the Bernabeu, while Getafe, Osasuna, Villarreal and Xerez also picked up victories.
Real go back above Barcelona on goal difference after the Catalans had temporarily taken pole position in La Liga.
Atletico had taken the lead when Jose Antonio Reyes curled a nice finish past Iker Casillas, but Real replied with three goals after the break.
Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Arbeloa and Gonzalo Higuain turned the tie around much to the delight of the home fans, although Diego Forlan set up a nervy end when he scored from the penalty spot on 68 minutes.
Deportivo were dealt a blow in their chase for European football as top-half rivals Getafe won 3-1 at the Riazor.
Depor drop to seventh in the Primera Division and Athletic Bilbao can move three points clear with victory over Racing Santander on Monday.
Two goals from Miku on 21 and 57 minutes helped Getafe, now two points off the top six, get over their derby defeat to Real Madrid in midweek.
Depor did not help themselves as Ze Castro scored an own goal in the opening period and Riki's strike on 71 minutes proved to be just a consolation.
Miguel Angel Lotina's side have only collected one point from the last 12 and need to improve their form quickly with Getafe now trailing them by only two points.
Sevilla slipped up in their hunt for Champions League football as they went down 3-0 at Villarreal.
The Yellow Submarine moved up with the comprehensive victory thanks to goals from Giuseppe Rossi, Joseba Llorente and Robert Pires.
It was Antonio Alvarez's first game in charge of Sevilla, but they stay fifth after the defeat - two points behind Real Mallorca.
Great escapeXerez have not given up hope of avoiding relegation this season after defeating Valladolid 3-0 at home to make it 10 points from the last 15.
Victor Sanchez, on loan from Barcelona, scored in the opening minute to put Xerez ahead and further goals from Michel Gonzalez and Mario Bermejo sealed a fine win which keeps their hopes a great escape alive.
Xerez stay bottom of the table but their recent revival has seen them move seven points away from safety, while Valladolid are second from bottom.
Osasuna moved to within two points of Almeria after they beat them 1-0 at Reyno de Navarra.
Walter Pandiani's 20th-minute header ensured the win to end Osasuna's seven-match winless streak as Juan Manuel Ortiz was sent off for two yellow cards after the break.
Both sides remain in the bottom half of the table although they are comfortably clear of the drop zone.
Meanwhile, Espanyol and Sporting Gijon played out a goalless stalemate at Estadi Cornella-El Prat.
Neither side could break the deadlock and they both remain in the bottom-half of the table.
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