Barcelona maintain their lead at the top of the table with a win over Real Sociedad.
Barcelona needed a goal ten minutes from time to claim maximum spoils against Real Sociedad at Camp Nou.Prolific hit man Samuel Eto'o stooped to head home a later winner having previously missed a first minute penalty.
The Basque visitors to the Catalan capital were unfortunate not to claim a point, despite having been reduced to ten men when Xabier Prieto saw red on the hour mark.
Real Madrid ran out 3-1 winners over Real Zaragoza despite falling behind to David Sanchez Villa's opener.
Goals from Raul, Ronaldo and Michael Owen secured three points for second placed Real Madrid.
Valencia failed to significantly cut into Barcelona's lead at the top of La Liga after being held to a draw at Osasuna.
The reigning champions could not find the breakthrough at Osasuna, despite playing the final 25 minutes against ten men after the hosts' Jose Izquierdo was sent off for a second bookable offence.
Espanyol kept their grip on the fourth UEFA Champions League spot as they came from behind to claim a 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao.
The Basque outfit received an early lift as Francisco Yeste scored after just two minutes but Maxi Rodriguez earned a point for Espanyol on 31 minutes.
Deportivo La Coruna's season shows no sign of improving as they drew 1-1 at home to bottom club Numancia and had a man sent off.
Central defender Cesar was dismissed for a second yellow card midway through the second half before Walter Pandiani scored on 75 minutes.
But Numancia quickly made their numerical superiority count with an equaliser just three minutes later courtesy of Luis Tevenet.
Villarreal climbed a couple of places up the table as a Diego Forlan double helped the visitors to a 4-2 success at Levante.
Antonio Guayre gave Villarreal the perfect start with a goal after three minutes and Forlan increased the advantage just before the half hour.
Alberto Rivera brought Levante back into the game two minutes after the break before the two-goal cushion was restored by Forlan on the hour.
Gustavo Reggi reduced the deficit again on 71 minutes but Marcos Senna's 87th minute goal extinguished the hosts' fightback.
A goal in each half from Edu kept up Real Betis' push for a European berth as the Seville-based club beat struggling Mallorca 2-0 at home.
Albacete and Racing Santander, who had Pedro Lopez sent off on 70 minutes, did themselves no great favours in their battle to avoid the drop after sharing a 0-0 draw.
Click below for an individual match summary:
Albacete 0-0 Racing Santander
Athletic Bilbao 1-1 Espanyol
Barcelona 1-0 Real Sociedad
Deportivo La Coruna 1-1 Numancia
Levante 2-4 Villarreal
Osasuna 0-0 Valencia
Real Betis 2-0 Mallorca
Real Madrid 3-1 Real Zaragoza
