Osasuna also made progress in their survival bid, while Deportivo La Coruna remain firmly rooted to the foot of the division.
Real Madrid remain 15 points adrift of table-topping Barcelona after slipping to a shock 1-0 defeat away at struggling Granada.
Jose Mourinho has already conceded defeat in the title race to Real's arch-rivals, and they now face a battle to overhaul cross-city foes Atletico in the battle for second place.
Cristiano Ronaldo was among the goals again on Saturday, but notched at the wrong end.
The Portuguese forward, so often the hero for Real, turned villain as he connected with a Gabriel Torje corner to put through his own net on 23 minutes.
Ronaldo has scored more goals this season than the entire Granada side combined, but he offered them an unexpected helping hand at Los Carmenes.
While reigning champions Real continue to struggle in the defence of their league crown, Granada have edged three points clear of the relegation zone.
Climb
Espanyol continued their climb away from the trapdoor with a deserved 3-2 home win over Levante.
Espanyol dominated the opening period but relied on Vicente Iborra's own goal to hold a 1-0 half-time lead they relinquished almost immediately after the break to Ruben's clever header.
The hosts have lost just once in nine games under new boss Javier Aguirre, and they showed why they are on the rise as Christian Stuani and Sergio Garcia combined to score a quick-fire double which proved decisive.
Obafemi Martins made Espanyol sweat when he fired in after 87 minutes, but they held on to go five points clear of the bottom three.
Getafe registered their first win in 10 games as they came from a goal and a man down inside 11 minutes to beat Deportivo la Coruna 3-1.
It had been Domingos Paciencia's side's discipline that had let them down last week as they surrendered a lead against Valencia after having Silvio sent off, but it appeared they would be handed a lifeline in their battle for survival on Saturday when Riki pounced on a loose ball inside the area and was brought down by Miguel Angel Moya after just 10 minutes.
Even a long stoppage as Jaime Gavilan had to be substituted to allow back-up goalkeeper Jordi Codina to come on did not put Pizzi off as he confidently rolled home his seventh goal of the season.
However, the visitors failed to build on their numerical advantage and gifted Getafe a route back into the game as Ze Castro failed to intercept Adrian Colunga's pass towards Abdelaziz Barrada and then upended the Moroccan once he was inside the area.
Castro was also secure from the spot to register his fifth goal of the campaign and for the remainder of the first half both sides seemed more intent on getting players from the other side booked than concentrating on the game.
Abel Aguilar then inevitably became the second player to be ordered off for little more than challenging for the ball in the air with Borja as referee Jose Luis Paradas Romero continued to be card happy, and after Riki missed another gilt-edged opportunity to put Depor in front with a header from Pizzi's cross 15 minutes from time, Getafe took control.
Firstly, Alvaro produced a fine piece of skill to control Barrada's pass on the run before finishing sweetly into Daniel Aranzubia's right-hand corner and Barrada was the creator once more two minutes later as Colunga received his low pass into the area before turning and firing high into the net at the near post.
A third consecutive defeat means Depor remain rooted to the foot of the table and four points from safety.
Leapfrogged
Emiliano Armenteros' second-half strike was enough to move Osasuna out of the relegation zone as they leapfrogged Celta Vigo with a 1-0 win at the Reyno de Navarra.
The hosts controlled a first period that was disturbed by a fierce wind in Pamplona and could easily have been in front before the break as Armenteros saw a header come back off the crossbar and Alvaro Cejudo was twice denied by good saves from Javi Varas.
However, the goal did arrive 10 minutes after the break as Lolo cushioned a header into the Argentine's path and he rifled the ball low past Varas to register just his third goal and Osasuna's fourth home league win of the season.
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