Sevilla move within four points of Atletico with win over Villarreal
Sevilla made it two wins in four days over Villarreal as they won 2-0 at El Madrigal.
Unai Emery's side moved four points behind fourth-placed Atletico Madrid and six clear of Villarreal in sixth courtesy of second-half strikes from Coke and Vitolo.
The victory caps a fine 10 days for Los Rojiblancos at Villarreal's expense after they secured a 5-2 aggregate triumph over Marcelino Garcia Toral's side in the Europa League round of 16 - with wins in both legs.
The Yellow Submarine came out in determined mood, no doubt desperate to exact some sort of revenge, and zipped the ball around well in greasy conditions.
Giovani dos Santos had the first sight of goal in the match, but the former Tottenham man was unable to find the target with his curled free kick in the third minute.
Sevilla were looking the more jaded out of the teams after their midweek exploits, but Carlos Bacca soon inspired them into the ascendancy.
The Colombian striker was alert as Mateo Musacchio made a mess of a clearance header, but with Bacca bearing down on goal Musacchio recovered well to clear the danger his mix-up had created.
Bacca was unlucky to see a dipping shot drift just over the bar after 20 minutes and then forced a great reaction save out of Villarreal keeper Sergio Asenjo from a corner.
The hosts came back in an entertaining end to the half, with Dos Santos and on-loan Arsenal man Joel Campbell both having half-chances, but it remained goalless at the break.
Sevilla emerged strongly after the interval and Diogo Figueiras' wonderful invention down the right led to the deadlock being broken after 49 minutes.
He picked up the ball in the box and kept Villarreal's scampering backline guessing before finding Sevilla skipper Coke in space with an exquisite back-heel that the former Rayo Vallecano man routinely slid home off the far post.
Villarreal once again upped the ante in response to the goal, but they had very few clear-cut opportunities to go along with their possession and were made to pay with 25 minutes remaining.
Vitolo, who was recently called up to the Spain squad, gave a masterclass in composure as a hopeful Coke cross from the byline sailed over everyone to find him in space fairly central on the edge of Villarreal's area.
Instead of wildly thrashing it goalwards, like so many players would, he calmly side-footed it into the bottom right corner on the volley with such precision that Asenjo had no chance.
With Emery's charges happy to protect what they had, the hosts tried in vain to force their way back into the contest, with Gerard having their best chance in the 87th minute but his low drive from close range cannoned back off a post.
It was somewhat harsh on the hosts, who played some very good football at times, but they are now four games without a win in all competitions.
Real Sociedad 3, Cordoba 1
Cordoba picked up three red cards as the Primera Division's bottom side slipped to a 3-1 defeat at Real Sociedad.
Aleksandar Pantic was dismissed after just six minutes but the visitors still managed to take the lead as Florin Andone put them in front.
Imanol Agirretxe's equaliser meant David Moyes' side were level at the break and they moved in front when Gonzalo Castro scored with just 15 minutes remaining.
Cordoba had it all to do to prevent a ninth straight league defeat and their task was made even more difficult when Inigo Lopez was shown a second yellow card.
A third straight league win for Sociedad was wrapped up when Alfred Finnbogason added a third goal in injury time, with Daniel Pinillos sent off in the closing moments of the contest.
Pantic was sent off early on having been adjudged the last man as he fouled Finnbogason but, despite their numerical disadvantage, Andone opened the scoring for the Primera Division strugglers as he headed in Bebe's corner from just inside the six-yard box.
Lopez then forced two smart saves out of Sociedad goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli as Sociedad continued to labour against their depleted opponents.
Heldon also brought a save from Rulli before Moyes' men finally started to get a foothold in the game - with Sergio Canales and Agirretxe both going close.
And it was the latter who eventually levelled for the home side as he got on the end of Canales' cross to head past Juan Carlos.
It was Cordoba who were once again forcing the issue, this time Bebe saw his effort from the edge of the box cannon off the crossbar, whilst Sociedad also hit the woodwork just before the interval through Joseba Zaldua.
With the hosts struggling to break down a spirited performance from Miroslav Djukic's side, it took until 75 minutes for them to eventually take the lead as Castro scored from the middle of the penalty area having been picked out by Agirretxe's pass.
Lopez was then shown two yellow cards, one for a challenge on Yuri and then for dissent, to further stunt Cordoba's chances, with Finnbogason finishing well in the second minute of injury time.
There was still time for Pinillos to join Pantic and Lopez in the dressing room as Sociedad picked up the win and moved into the top half of the table.
