Real Madrid squeezed past Betis 2-1 in a game which saw two players sent off for being naughty boys, Sergio Garcia for Betis and Marcelo for Real.
Heinze put Real ahead after 18 minutes, getting on the end of a free kick from van der Vaart and heading the ball home. Sergio Garcia equalised for Betis via a penalty. The penalty kick itself was saved by Casillas but rebounded back into play and Sergio Garcia was there to have a second go.
The winner came in the 91st minute courtesy of van Nistelrooy.
A goal by Rossi was enough to give Villarreal the three points against Sporting Gijón and they stay top of the pile.
Barcelona continued their recovery with a 1-2 win over Espanyol. The home side scored first, Coro slotting the ball home after 20 minutes and it wasn’t until the 75th minute that Henry managed to score the equaliser. The winning goal, scored by Messi, was a penalty awarded in the 94th minute after Nico Pareja was ajudged to have brought down Eto’o inside the area.