Sevilla lost ground on Barcelona and Real Madrid at the top of La Liga as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to relegation-threatened Leganes.
Gabriel Pires struck a back-heel flick in the first three minutes to put the visitors ahead, and Nabil El Zhar fluffed a great chance to double the lead when he was through on goal but chipped over the bar.
But just before half-time Stevan Jovetic did well to lift the ball over the Leganes keeper and keep his balance to head it into an empty net.
However, the hosts were unable to create many more significant chances at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan and ended up with a second straight draw that hurts their chances of claiming a first league title since the 1945-46 season.
Fourth-placed Atletico Madrid needed a late goal from Antoine Griezmann to see them past struggling Granada 1-0 at the Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes.
The hosts looked set to cling on for a valuable point until Griezmann produced a superb diving header six minutes from time to grab the victory.
To make matters worse for Granada they had Mubarak Wakaso sent off in injury time for an unnecessary foul on the Frenchman.
Valencia's struggles in La Liga continued as they were held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Sporting Gijon.
After a goalless first half, midfielder Daniel Parejo had his penalty saved by goalkeeper Ivan Cuellar in the 55th minute, and Duje Cop scored at the other end after Valencia goalkeeper Diego Alves failed to fully clear a shot inside the area.
But Barcelona loanee Munir El Haddadi saved a point for Los Che in the 85th minute, though the result snapped Valencia's three-game winning streak at home and still leaves them in 13th place.
A late goal from Edgar Mendez saw 10-man Alaves come back to beat Malaga 2-1.
Zouhair Feddal had given the away side the lead in the first half but Juankar hit back in the 71st minute and, just 60 seconds later, Feddal was sent off.
Malaga applied the pressure in the final 20 minutes but could not break through and they were punished as Mendez went up the other end to score the winner in the final minute.