Sevilla snapped a two-game losing streak with a comfortable 3-0 derby win over struggling Cordoba.
Grzegorz Krychowiak headed in the opener from a corner on 39 minutes and then Carlos Bacca scored from close range just before half-time, and any hope of a Cordoba fightback in the second half soon vanished when Patrick Ekeng was shown a straight red card for striking out at Vitolo.
Krychowiak was then also given his marching orders for a dangerous tackle, but Vicente Iborra's headed goal put the game out of Cordoba's sight a few minutes later.
Unai Emery's side went into the match on the back of successive defeats to Real Madrid and Getafe which saw them surrender fourth place in the table to Valencia, but they dominated this game from start to finish and Cordoba were fortunate to only concede three times.
Jose Antonio Reyes - who was absent against Madrid and Getafe but played a crucial role here - could have given the hosts an early lead when he met a cross from Bacca, but he was denied by Cordoba stopper Juan Carlos, who also stopped a volley from Iborra a few minutes later.
Visiting striker Nabil Ghilas missed a header in a rare Cordoba counterattack, but Sevilla soon got the goal they deserved, as Krychowiak headed in a Reyes corner to score his second goal in as many games.
The second goal arrived five minutes later. Defender Nico Pareja played a long ball to Vitolo and the winger crossed for Bacca to nudge the ball home from just a couple of yards out.
Cordoba coach Miroslav Djukic brought on former Manchester United forward Bebe and midfielder Ekeng at the break but his change dramatically backfired as the Cameroon international was rightly sent off for kicking Vitolo in the face.
Daniel Carrico had headed a Reyes cross off the bar moments earlier as Sevilla's one-way traffic continued, but the hosts then lost their man advantage as Krychowiak made a dangerous, studs up tackle on Rene Krhin and was also shown a red card.
However, Sevilla's frustration at losing the midfielder quickly subsided, as Iborra headed home Ever Banega's cross to complete a morale-boosting win.
Also, ten-man Granada moved off the foot of the Primera Division standings following a goalless draw at home to Athletic Bilbao.
Both sides had chances to walk away with victory either side of Emanuel Insua's red card midway through the second half for an agricultural challenge on Markel Susaeta.
As it was, they settled for a point, which was enough to move Granada up to 19th and above Cordoba although still one point from safety.
It was the hosts who started brightly and although they lacked a cutting edge in the final third, Piti did test Bilbao keeper Gorka Iraizoz from just outside the area.
Gradually, though, the visitors came into the contest and Oscar de Marcos and Aritz Aduriz should have done better as they missed the target with their respective efforts.
Mikel San Jose mishit his shot over the bar from close range while at the other end, Jean-Sylvain Babin got his head to Piti's cross which forced Iraizoz to tip round the post.
That was the best chance either side would fashion in the opening 45 minutes but Babin put another header wide shortly before the interval as Granada finished the half strongly.
After a quiet start to the second half, Piti's strike forced Iraizoz to make a fine save but defences were largely on top.
Granada's hopes of pushing for victory were dealt a blow when Insua was given a straight red card for a studs up high challenge on Susaeta in the 68th minute.
While both players went for the bouncing ball, the former Boca Juniors full-back left his boot in to make his mark on his opponent.
Bilbao attempted to make their extra man count and Mikel Balenziaga's point blank strike was fantastically saved by Oier Olazabal.
But it was Granada who would come closest to breaking the deadlock as a cross along the box sat up for Piti, who drilled his strike against the post.
Almost immediately afterwards, Iker Muniain's 20-yard effort struck the outside of the post but neither side could find a winner in the closing stages.
In the late match, Espanyol won at La Rosaleda for the third successive time as goals from Alvaro Gonzalez and Sergio Garcia earned them a 2-0 win over Malaga.
Malaga had the chance to level at 1-1 when they won an 83rd-minute penalty following a remarkable handball from visiting defender Diego Colotto, whose diving stop to tip Javi Guerra's shot onto the crossbar was spectacular but also earned him a red card.
Nordin Amrabat could not make the chance count, though, as Kiko Casilla saved his spot-kick and Sergio Garcia wrapped up the points late on for the Copa del Rey semi-finalists.
