Sevilla kept up their title charge with a 2-1 win at promoted Tenerife on Saturday to move level on points with second-placed Real Madrid.
Highly-rated Argentine winger Diego Perotti and Brazilian forward Renato were on target as Sevilla recorded an eighth win of the season to keep pace with powerhouses Barcelona and Real in the title race.
The 21-year-old Perotti, who won his first cap for Argentina this month, struck the opener on 32 minutes before Brazilian Renato thumped in a second three minutes after the break.
Nino pulled a goal back for Tenerife but Sevilla held on for the win to move level with Real and a point behind Barcelona.
Manolo Jimenez’s side now travel to Romanians FC Unirea Urziceni in the Champions League on Tuesday with qualification for the knockout stage secure while Barcelona and Real still have work to do to book their passage.
Elsewhere Deportivo La Coruna moved up to fourth with a dramatic 2-1 home win over Atletico Madrid.
Mexican international Andres Guardado converted a controversial penalty five minutes into stoppage time to down Atletico who stay in the bottom three with coach Quique Sanchez Flores still waiting for his first league win in charge.
Sergio “Kun” Aguero put Atletico ahead after just three minutes following a mistake from central defender Alberto Lopo but the visitors could not build on the start.
Atletico gifted the equaliser to Depor on 20 minutes with some awful defending from a set-piece with a near post flick-on coming to Argentine Diego Colotto to bundle home.
The game looked poised to end 1-1 but Pablo Ibanez conceded a penalty at the death and Guardado made no mistake.
Aguero was furious about the decision with coach Flores coming onto the pitch to calm him down while Atletico midfielder Cleber Santana was sent off for complaining.
Real Madrid aim to go into next Sunday’s ‘Clasico’ against Barcelona at Camp Nou on a high note with a home win over Racing Santander on Sunday.
Real’s last match at the Santiago Bernabeu saw them crash out of the Kings Cup to third division Alcorcon – losing 4-1 on aggregate – so they will be keen to put on a good show for their disappointed fans.
“After what happened against Alcorcon we owe the fans,” said Real coach Manuel Pellegrini. “We all know how important the Clasico is but right now we are just thinking about the Racing game.”
Unbeaten Barcelona hope to go into the Real Madrid match as leaders by beating Athletic Bilbao at San Mames later on Saturday.
Barcelona have lost Eric Abidal and Yaya Toure to the flu bug that has spread through the squad while Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic is also out with a thigh injury.
Guardiola is crossing his fingers that Ibrahimovic is back in time for Tuesday’s crucial Champions League match against Inter Milan at Camp Nou.
“I do not think it is serious but we will see how things go,” said Guardiola. “I hope that next week things will improve. If he is not ready I do not want any excuses being made.”
Many eyes will be on Barcelona striker Thierry Henry following his controversial handball which helped France eliminate the Republic of Ireland in the World Cup play-off.
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