Valencia slipped out of the Champions League qualification places after a surprise 2-1 defeat away to Racing Santander tonight.
Valencia, the defending Spanish champions, fell behind to a Rodolfo Bodipo strike after 11 minutes. Francisco Rufete equalised within a minute but Bodipo scored his second midway through the first half to clinch victory.
Celta Vigo could not take full advantage as they were held to a goalless draw away to Alaves. It was still enough to take them level on 53 points with Valencia with six games left to play and into fourth place by virtue of their better head-to-head record.
Real Madrid continue to lead the standings with 64 points from 32 games, despite their 5-1 defeat by Real Mallorca at the Bernabeu yesterday.
Real Sociedad moved back to within a point of the leaders with a 1-0 win at home to Sevilla, also yesterday.
Deportivo Coruna will join Sociedad on 63 points with victory over Recreativo Huelva later tonight.
The race for sixth place, and the final UEFA Cup qualification slot, continued, with Malaga, Sevilla, Real Betis and Atletico Madrid all losing ground.
Mallorca's stunning 5-1 win over Real was enough to take them into sixth on 44 points. Athletic Bilbao moved up to seventh, also on 44 points, after a 5-1 success away to relegation threatened Osasuna.
Barcelona, in 12th place at the start of play, also had a good weekend as their 3-0 win at home to Rayo Vallecano moved them up to eighth on 43 points.
Luis Enrique gave the Catalans the lead after 68 minutes, finishing off a one-two with Patrick Kluivert with a stunning volley into the bottom right-hand corner.
Kluivert had a hand in the second nine minutes later, weaving his way into space on the edge of the box and sliding a perfect pass through for Marc Overmars to slot the ball through the keeper's legs.
Javier Saviola made it 3-0 in the second minute of injury-time as he received the ball just inside the Rayo half, raced forward and tucked in his shot.