Real Sociedad beat Valladolid 1-0 on Thursday to stay one point ahead of Villarreal for sixth place in La Liga.
#INSERT type:image caption:Carlos Vela's goal gave Sociedad three points. END#
Sociedad's Mexican forward Carlos Vela chipped goalkeeper Jaime Jimenez after receiving an equally exquisite lobbed pass from Ruben Pardo to set him up in the 23rd minute at Anoeta Stadium.
Villarreal kept pace with a 1-0 win at Getafe.
Jeremy Perbet slotted in Villarreal's winner in the fifth minute.
Both Sociedad and Villarreal are both in position to qualify for the Europa League and remain in striking distance of fourth-place Athletic Bilbao and the final Champions League berth.
Getafe and Valladolid were left in the relegation zone along with bottom side Real Betis.
Also, last-place Real Betis won 3-1 at Levante to earn their first away victory in league play after 14 winless visits this season.
Second-half goals from Jorge Molina and Ruben Castro secured a first away win in the league for almost a year. Salva Sevilla and Papakouli Diop had traded first-half goals.
The long-awaited away road win left Betis seven points from safety with eight rounds to go.
Almeria overcame Seydou Keita's goal just seven seconds into the match to fight back for a 2-2 draw at home with Valencia.
Valencia were 2-0 up when Eduardo Vargas found the net 10 minutes before half-time. But Almeria replied with two goals in as many minutes early in the second half with Oscar Diaz and Corona bringing them level for a crucial point.
Valencia and Levante stayed in the middle of the standings, while Almeria inched two points from the drop.