Valencia missed the chance to move level with La Liga leaders Barcelona after drawing 1-1 against a much-improved Real Sociedad side at Anoeta.
Carles Gil volleyed the visitors in front in the first half against the run of play, but former Valencia player Sergio Canales levelled for La Real in the 37th minute.
Both sides could have won it in the second period and Canales came agonisingly close to snatching a last-minute winner, but saw his bouncing shot cleared off the line.
The result means Valencia's stint at the top of the table proved to be short-lived and they now share second place with Atletico Madrid, while La Real brought a two-game losing streak to a halt.
Getafe picked up what could prove to be a vital victory as Michel's goal proved to be enough to beat Malaga 1-0 at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez.
The Madrid club came into the contest one place off the bottom of the table after a poor start which had seen them collect just three points from five games.
However, victory for Cosmin Contra's side saw them move up to 14th position -- one place below their opponents.
Deportivo La Coruna's nightmare week suffered a fittingly miserable end as they went down to a stoppage-time goal in a 1-0 defeat at home to Almeria.
Having lost 8-2 to Real Madrid at the Riazor last weekend and then suffered a 2-1 derby defeat at arch-rivals Celta Vigo in midweek, Depor would have been desperate to pick up something from the visit of seemingly easier opponents.
And that looked set to be the case with the match apparently headed for a goalless draw -- only for Almeria to snatch the victory through Edgar's strike two minutes into added time.
Almeria's triumph sees them climb level with seventh-placed Villarreal and four other teams on eight points, while Depor remain near the foot of the standings on four points.
Cordoba remain bottom and still without a win in their return to the top flight after being held to a 0-0 draw at home to Espanyol.
The hosts showed more ambition to win the game than Sergio Gonzalez's side but only managed four attempts on Kiko Casilla's goal, and on each occasion the goalkeeper was up to the task.
Cordoba defender Aleksandar Pantic headed home a free-kick with 16 minutes remaining and celebrated wildly thinking he could have won his side the game, but was then brought down to earth by the linesman's flag.