Real Madrid ended Valencia's unbeaten home record with a 1-0 win at La Mestalla.
Real Madrid ended Valencia's unbeaten home record with a 1-0 win at La Mestalla.
Raul grabbed the only goal of the game on 52 minutes when he converted from Roberto Carlos' cross.
The win leaves Real three points behind arch rivals Barcelona.
Sevilla closed the gap on Barcelona to one point with a 3-1 win over struggling Athletic Bilbao at San Mames.The visitors got off to a flying start with Luis Fabiano heading home from Fredi Kanoute's cross after just five minutes
Sevilla doubled their lead six minutes later when Marti's free kick somehow found its way into the net after a mistake by Athletic goalkeeper Inaki Lafuente.
Athletic pulled a goal back on 69 minutes with Aritz Aduritz scoring from close-range.
Sevilla made the game safe deep into injury time with Fabiano scoring a goal on the break.
Real Zaragoza missed the chance to close the gap on the leading pack after being held to a 1-1 draw by Celta Vigo.
Diego Milito gave Zaragoza the ideal start with the opener after just seven minutes, but Zaragoza suffered a blow when Alberto Zapater was sent off seven minutes later.
Celta made their numerical advantage count when Fernando Baiano equalised on 53 minutes, but the home side were reduced to ten men also when Gustavo Lopez saw red 12 minutes from time.
Osasuna got back to winning ways in style with a thumping 4-1 victory over Deportivo La Coruna.
Roberto Soldado set Osasuna on their way with the opening goal after just five minutes and Valdo added a second on 22 minutes.
Juan Rodriguez pulled a goal back for Depor on the half hour mark, but Soldado restored the two-goal advantage with his second of the game on the hour.
Savo Milosevic wrapped up the win with Osasuna's fourth deep into injury-time.
Racing Santander got the better of Recreativo Huelva after a seven-goal thriller at Estadio El Sardinero.
Nikola Zigic gave Racing the lead on 14 minutes, but Beto levelled matters just before the half hour mark.
Ezequiel Garay restored Racing's lead from the penalty spot on 34 minutes and Gonzalo Colsa added a third three minutes before half time.
Beto ended his game on a sour note when he was sent off just before the hour mark.
Ikechukwu Uche reduced the arrears for Recreativo on 61 minutes, but Zigic restored the two-goal cushion with his second of the contest three minutes later.
Jesus Vazquez pulled a goal back for Recreativo in the last minute, but it was too little too late for the visitors.
Walter Pandiani's last-gasp goal earned Espanyol a 1-1 draw at Real Betis.
Robert gave Betis the lead from the penalty spot on 32 minutes, but Pandiani popped up in the final seconds to earn Espanyol a point.
Real Mallorca piled the misery on Gimnastic with a 3-2 win.
Campano gave Gimnastic the lead five minutes before half time, but Bosko Jankovic drew Mallorca level on 56 minutes.
Victor fired Mallorca in front on 63 minutes only for Oscar Lopez to draw Gimnastic level ten minutes later.
The game looked set to end all-square until Juan Arango grabbed the winner two minutes from time.
Levante picked up a valuable point after a goalless draw at Getafe.
Click on fixture for full match summary
Celta Vigo 1-1 Real Zaragoza
Getafe 0-0 Levante
Gimnastic de Tarragona 2-3 Mallorca
Osasuna 4-1 Deportivo La Coruna
Racing Santander 4-3 Recreativo
Real Betis 1-1 Espanyol
Valencia 0-1 Real Madrid
Athletic Bilbao 1-3 Sevilla
