Levante UD slipped to a 2-0 home defeat by CA Osasuna, with Málaga CF taking full advantage to move into a UEFA Champions League position following a 2-1 win against RCD Espanyol.

Coutinho gave Espanyol the lead with his fourth strike in as many matches, before two goals in the space of three second-half minutes from Ruud van Nistelrooy and Martín Demichelis completed a swift turnaround. Málaga are now fourth, level on points with third-placed Valencia CF.

Osasuna are hot on the heels of Levante after Raúl García and Nino scored either side of half-time to move them to within a point of their opponents. In the early kick-off, Club Atlético de Madrid slumped to a 1-0 defeat at bottom side Real Zaragoza courtesy of Apoño's 95th-minute penalty.

Fellow strugglers Real Sporting de Gijón, meanwhile, had Lora to thank for a last-gasp goal which secured a 1-1 draw with Athletic Club. The bottom three sides each have 25 points after Real Racing Club drew 1-1 with Real Betis Balompié. Villarreal CF eased their own relegation fears with a 2-0 victory at Rayo Vallecano de Madrid.