Atletico Madrid remain fourth in the Spanish Liga - and on course for the Champions League - thanks to an extravagant 6-3 home over Almeria on Sunday. ( dpa )
Atletico now have 53 points from 31 games, five points less than third-placed Barcelona, who are at home to Getafe later on Sunday.
Teenage sensation Sergio Aguero led the rout with two goals. Portugal winger Simao Sabrosa also scored twice, whilst Antonio Lopez and Diego Forlan chipped in with a goal apiece.
Atletico are now three points above fifth-placed Racing Santander, who crashed 3-1 at home to Deportivo Coruna, for whom Xisco Jimenez scored two.
In sixth place, five points behind Santander, are Sevilla, who are at home to second-placed Villarreal Sunday's late match.
If Villarreal win in Seville they will be just four points behind leaders Real Madrid, who were relieved to escape with a 1-1 draw away to Mallorca on Saturday.
Out-of-form Espanyol remain seventh after losing 1- 0 in Bilbao, who move up to eighth.
At the other end of the table, doomed Levante stay rockbottom after crashing 0-3 at home to lively Valladolid.
Murcia are still second from bottom despite a defiant 1-0 win over troubled Valencia, with a goal from veteran Uruguayan striker Ivan Alonso.
Sunday's big shock was Zaragoza's 0-3 meltdown at home to Betis, a result which leaves Zaragoza third from bottom and in massive trouble.
Zaragoza are now three points behind fourth-from-bottom Recreativo Huelva, who won 1-0 away to Osasuna on Saturday.
Osasuna now have just one point more than Huelva. Valladolid are one point ahead of Osasuna and one point below Getafe and Valencia.