Defender Diego Mainz scored at both ends as rivals Granada and Sevilla drew 1-1 at Estadio Los Carmenes.
The veteran Granada centre-back had put the home side into the lead with a towering header from a corner on 16 minutes.
However, Mainz then had the ball in the same net midway through the second half when he stabbed a cross past his own goalkeeper Roberto at the near post.
The draw was little good to either side's hopes at opposite ends of the table, with Sevilla chasing European qualification again while Granada remain second bottom.
Rayo Vallecano beat Almeria 2-0 with goals in either half to all but secure Primera Division survival for a fourth consecutive season.
Antonio Amaya headed the hosts in front midway through the first half and then substitute Miku settled the match by tapping home in the last minute.
The Vallecas club move on to 41 points for the season after the win, 13 above the relegation zone, and can now focus on trying to catch Malaga in the final European spot, on 46 points. Almeria, meanwhile, were brought back down to earth after beating Granada 3-0 last week and they are still deep in trouble with six games remaining.
Villarreal and Cordoba continue their long respective waits for a league win after playing out an exciting 0-0 draw at El Madrigal.
Cordoba will be grateful to their goalkeeper Juan Carlos for making a series of impressive saves in the second half to keep the match goalless, but Villarreal will also view this game as a missed opportunity to put an end to their eight-game winless streak, against the league's bottom side.
Cordoba move on to 20 points for the season thanks to this draw but are eight points from safety with six games of the season left and remain without a win in the second half of the season.
Villarreal stay sixth and are now six points ahead of Malaga in seventh thanks to this draw, but they will be concerned about the fact they have not won a match since March 8.
Celta Vigo earned a narrow but deserved 1-0 win at Eibar as Nolito scored from the penalty spot late on in the first half.
Although they could only score the one goal, this was another impressive display from Eduardo Berizzo's side, who recorded a second consecutive league win to move up to ninth in the Primera Division and on to 42 points.
Eibar, meanwhile, remain on 31 points, just three above the relegation zone.