Villarreal moved second in La Liga with a 2-0 win at home to Atletico Madrid on Sunday, while 10-man Sevilla beat Athletic Bilbao 4-3.
Midfielder Cani put Villarreal ahead in the ninth minute at El Madrigal, before former Manchester United forward Giuseppe Rossi grabbed the second on 52 minutes.
Juan Carlos Garrido's side go level on points with third-placed Barcelona, but move ahead of the reigning champions thanks to a superior goal difference.
Luis Fabiano and Frederic Kanoute gave Sevilla a 2-0 lead at the break in their match against Athletic Bilbao at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, with former Tottenham striker Kanoute's goal coming from the penalty spot on the stroke of half-time.
Brazilian international Fabiano added the third just after the hour mark and Sevilla appeared to be cruising before Fernando Navarro was sent off in the 64th minute.
Bilbao made good use of their extra-man advantage, with Fernando Llorente pulling a goal back in the 74th minute. The Spanish international then saw his penalty saved by Sevilla keeper Andres Palop, but smashed home the rebound to close the gap to just one goal.
The hosts refused to capitulate, with Kanoute converting another penalty in the 80th minute to restore a two-goal margin, before Igor Gabilondo completed the scoring for Athletic to leave a breathless encounter 4-3 in Sevilla's favour at the final whistle.
Malaga sunk nearer to the drop zone after a 3-0 capitulation away to Osasuna. The visitors were behind just two minutes in at the Estadio El Sadar after giving away a penalty that was dispatched with aplomb by Osasuna's Iranian international Javad Nekounam.
Nekounam's compatriot Masoud Shojaei made it 2-0 eight minutes before the break, before Carlos Aranda put the result beyond doubt with Osasuna's third in the 56th minute. Malaga are now one place above the relegation zone, with only goal difference keeping them ahead of 18th-placed Racing Santander.
Goals from Jesus Datolo and Jose Maria Callejon in each half helped Espanyol climb to fifth with a 2-1 home win over Levante, who had Xisco Nadal sent off.
Elsewhere, Sporting Gijon went down 3-0 away to Getafe, while Hercules came away from Almeria with a point after a 1-1 draw at the Estadio Mediterraneos.