Atletico fail to capitalise on beaten Barca
Second-placed Atletico Madrid failed to fully capitalise on Saturday's Clasico defeat for La Liga leaders Barcelona.
Atletico were held to a goalless draw at Malaga on Sunday evening.
Los Rojiblancos could have cut the points gap to single figures, following Barca's 2-1 reverse at Real Madrid, had they managed to overcome Malaga.
But the fourth-placed hosts proved tricky opposition and just about held their own to claim a point which kept their own Champions League aspirations on track.
Dorlan Pabon scored twice as Real Betis held off Real Sociedad's fightback to secure a 3-3 draw in a freewheeling encounter at Estadio Anoeta.
Jorge Molina gave Betis a half-time lead after Antoine Griezmann's brilliant strike was disallowed at the other end, and Pabon doubled the lead early in the second half.
Sociedad roared back with three goals in 11 minutes from Carlos Vela, Inigo Martinez and Xabi Prieto, the latter with a penalty, but Pabon's second secured a deserved share of the spoils for Betis.
Real Mallorca snatched a late 2-1 win at Granada - their first league victory in 10 matches.
The hosts took an early lead through Nolito but Alfaro levelled soon after, before a last-gasp header by substitute Tomer Hemed gave the visitors all three points and their first win of 2013.
Espanyol and Real Valladolid played out a dull goalless draw at the Cornella-El Prat in a game where excitement and chances were in short supply.
Valladolid got the point they would have wanted from the clash but Javier Aguirre's side would have left disappointed after previously picking up 16 of a possible 18 home points since the Mexican replaced Mauricio Pochettino at the helm.
Saturday
Real Madrid had one eye on their Champions League tie with Manchester United but still had enough to take El Clasico honours against Barcelona on Saturday.
A 2-1 victory may not be enough to get Jose Mourinho`s side back in the title race - they are 13 points behind - but it was a notable scalp for the capital club, who started without the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil, Sami Khedira, Gonzalo Higuain and Alvaro Arbeloa.
A much-changed side mattered little for in-form Madrid, though, and Karim Benzema put them 1-0 ahead with 13 minutes gone, only for Lionel Messi to level 10 minutes later.
Sergio Ramos would have the last word with the winner nine minutes from time, but there was still room for drama as Barca keeper Victor Valdes was sent off following the final whistle for arguing with referee Miguel Angel Perez Lasa.
There was not as much to talk about in the game between Deportivo La Coruna and Rayo Vallecano, however, with the match ending 0-0.
Depor did bring to an end their six-match losing streak but still remain deep in trouble at the foot of the La Liga table after being held at home.
It might have been even worse for the Galician side after they found themselves on the back foot for much of the first half and then reduced to 10 men in the closing stages when veteran defender Carlos Marchena was sent off.
Athletic Bilbao eased their drop fears with a much-needed victory over local rivals Osasuna at the Reyno de Navarra stadium to move six points clear of the relegation zone.
A volleyed goal by Markel Susaeta midway through the second half was enough to give Marcelo Bielsa's side the three points, but the Navarrans were superior for large periods of the match.
Friday's only game saw Getafe beat Real Zaragoza 2-0.
Friday's La Liga Result
Saturday's La Liga Results
Sunday's La Liga Results
Monday's La Liga Fixture