Levante UD returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion as a 4-0 defeat of Real Sporting de Gijón ended their run of three consecutive losses, on a day when Real Sociedad de Fútbol earned a much-needed 3-2 success at Real Betis Balompié.

Surprise early Liga pacesetters Levante slipped down the table after suffering three successive defeats in recent weeks, but they climbed back to within a point of third-placed Valencia CF and two of FC Barcelona in second thanks to a comfortable win. José Barkero got the ball rolling with 20 minutes gone and Valdo doubled their lead just after the break, before an Arouna Koné double rounded off the scoring.

Levante's result helped Real Sociedad climb above Gijón into 17th following their win in Seville. The hosts looked set to salvage a point when Jonathan Pereira struck twice in the last nine minutes to cancel out goals from Imanol Agirretxe and Carlos Vela, but Iñigo Martínez secured victory two minutes into added time when he caught goalkeeper Casto out of position from the halfway line.

Betis's city neighbours Sevilla FC are fifth, Álvaro Negredo's 23rd-minute spot kick earning them a 1-0 success at Real Zaragoza. CA Osasuna, meanwhile, are seventh after they beat RCD Espanyol 2-1 despite Eneko Satrustegui's dismissal (76). Elsewhere, RCD Mallorca also ended with ten men but still defeated bottom-placed Real Racing Club 2-1 and Granada CF won 1-0 at Athletic Club.