Levante shocked local rivals Valencia 2-1 after a pulsating second half at the Ciutat de Valencia.
Casadesus Victor gave the home side the lead in the 58th minute, and although Dani Parejo levelled after 74 minutes Levante reclaimed the lead less than a minute later through Luis Morales to seal the win.
Jose Gaya had the first effort of the game, but missed the target from 12 yards.
The win moved Levante out of the relegation zone, while Valencia lost ground on league leaders Real Madrid and missed the chance to move back above Atletico into third.
Villarreal brought a four-game winless streak in all competitions to an end by seeing off Getafe 2-1 at El Madrigal.
Despite making an unconvincing start to the game, the hosts took a commanding two-goal lead at half-time thanks to strikes in quick succession from Mario Gaspar and forward Gerard Moreno.
Mehdi Lacen's goal on the hour mark inspired a late charge from the visitors and Marcelino's side were left clinging on for victory in the final minutes, but they saw out the win to move within three points of the European places.
Alberto Bueno scored the only goal to give Rayo Vallecano a 1-0 win over Celta Vigo on Sunday.
Bueno's 20th-minute strike was enough to halt a three-game losing run and end Vigo's four-match unbeaten streak.
Bueno must share the match-winning honours with keeper Cristian Alvarez, who denied Celta's attacks time and again, with his display enough to leave the visitors feeling this was a game they should have won.
Cordoba's wait for a first win of the season goes on after they lost a two-goal lead with half an hour remaining to draw 2-2 at Elche.
Fortune favoured Miroslav Djukic's side at the start of the game, with Elche striker Jonathas de Jesus missing from the penalty spot with just five minutes played, and former Elche forward Fidel Chaves put the visitors into the lead not long after.
Fede Cartabia scored Cordoba's second goal of the evening in the 60th minute, but moments later Elche won another penalty, converted by centre-back David Lomban. Jonathas completed the comeback with a drilled volley with 15 minutes remaining.