A 3-0 drubbing by Valencia has virtually put paid to any title aspirations Real Madrid may have been harbouring.
Valencia dominated the match and could easily have scored half a dozen goals. Juan Manuel Mata, David Silva and Ruben Baraja did get their names on the scoresheet, though.
Sevilla maintained their hold on third place in La Liga with a 3-1 victory over Mallorca. Aritz Aduriz put the Mallorcans ahead before Kanouté equalised from the penalty spot after Brazilian striker Fabiano was brought down inside the area.
Fabiano then put Sevilla in front and Jesus Navas rounded things off with a fierce shot into the top corner of the Mallorca net.
Athletic Bilbao secured their La Liga future with a 1-0 win over Real Betis. Athletic, due to play Barcelona in the final of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, rested a great number of their regular players. It was a big gamble by the Athletic coach, Joaquin Caparros, but it paid off.