Substitute Alvaro Negredo notched a dramatic stoppage-time winner as Valencia brought their Primera Division losing streak to an end with a 2-1 victory over Sevilla at the Mestalla.
Los Che -- playing at home for the first time since Gary Neville's sacking as boss last month and having suffered defeat in each of their previous four league games -- deservedly opened the scoring in the 41st minute via Daniel Parejo's free-kick.
It subsequently looked as if they were going to be denied the win when Sevilla substitute Kevin Gameiro struck his 15th league goal of the season in the 86th minute.
But Negredo, introduced seconds before Gameiro's goal, then took advantage of sloppy play by the visitors in the dying moments as they attempted to defend a free kick, tucking the loose ball home from close range.
Villarreal consolidated their grasp on fourth place with a 2-0 victory over strugglers Getafe.
Denis Suarez's first-half strike gave the hosts the lead before Cedric Bakambu's 12th goal of the campaign was enough to see the Yellow Submarine edge closer to sealing the final Champions League qualification spot in the Primera Division.
Getafe remain 19th in the table, and are two points from safety.
Sporting Gijon are still fighting for their lives after losing 1-0 at home to Europa League qualification contenders Celta Vigo.
Celta's talisman Nolito scored the only goal of the game after 64 minutes to give the Galicians a deserved win which takes them onto 52 points and tightens their grip on fifth place.
Sporting still occupy 18th, the final relegation place in the Primera Division table, and are two points from safety with six games remaining.
Athletic Bilbao returned to winning ways as Inaki Williams' fine second-half strike earned them a 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano at San Mames.
Williams, who had to be substituted due to injury only moments later, fired home from the edge of the box in the 61st minute, registering his eighth league goal of the season.
The much-welcomed win comes after a run of three defeats and a draw in Athletic's previous four competitive matches, and will restore confidence ahead of Thursday's Europa League quarterfinal second leg against Sevilla, where they will try to overturn a 2-1 deficit.
Sunday's victory also sees them climb above Sevilla into sixth place in La Liga, although a top-four finish looks out of reach with Villarreal still nine points clear of them.