Villarreal’s defeat leaves them six points adrift of Valencia and six ahead of fifth spot Seville, who could only draw in Mallorca, whilst Bilbao were beaten by Madrid and Espanyol’s goalless draw at Hercules meant Atletico Madrid’s 3-0 win over Real Sociedad lifted them to sixth. At the bottom, Hercules and Malaga both got home draws, whilst Zaragoza’s win over Getafe on Monday gives them hope and deepens the gloom for Michel’s team who are now just a point ahead of Zaragoza, fifth from bottom.

Five from Valencia

Valencia put in probably their best performance of the season on Sunday, brushing aside the fading Villarreal with two goals apiece from Mata and Soldado and a fifth from Banega. After three games without scoring at Mestalla, this was the biggest win in the fixture, virtually hands Valencia third spot and bodes well for the team’s next home game –against Real Madrid. Mourinho rested a number of big games for the trip to Bilbao, but two penalties from Kaka and another Cristiano Ronaldo strike gave them a comfortable 0-3 win and leaves Bilbao in seventh, a point behind Seville.

Seville take a point

Gregorio Manzano’s reception at the club he left last season, Mallorca, was predictably hostile and his side were grateful for a mistake by Mallorca’s Israeli keeper Aouate for handing Rakitic a second half equaliser after Negredo had scored from the spot and De Guzman and Aki were on target for the hosts. That was Seville’s fourth unbeaten game on the run and leaves them six points behind Villarreal, who they meet in a fortnight’s time. Atletico Madrid took advantage of Bilbao’s defeat and Espanyol’s inability to score against Hercules to move into sixth by beating Real Sociedad 3-0 and have now lost just once in their last eight games.

Real trouble

The defeat for Real was their sixth in the last seven games and leaves them in 14th on 35 points, just 5 above the drop zone and with games against Bilbao, Barça, Valencia and Seville still to come - a similarly tough run in to Osasuna who are level on points with them after losing 1-0 at Sporting, who are themselves now 11th on 38 points. Deportivo are the other team on 35 after taking a point from Malaga in yet another goalless draw – their seventh of the campaign, with Getafe(34) and Zaragoza(33) immediately below them. In the weekend’s other game, Racing and Llevant each took a point from their 1-1 draw that should ease any lingering relegation fears for both clubs.

Getafe gloom deepens

Getafe’s defeat on Monday night means they’ve taken just eight points out of a possible 45 since January and slipped from being contenders for a European spot to relegation candidates. The win for Zaragoza confirmed their good home form –they’ve taken 19 points from their last 8 games at La Romareda and will be looking for maximum points from their remaining home matches –against Almeria, Osasuna and Espanyol to ensure safety.