Sevilla closed the gap on La Liga leaders Real Madrid to six points after they won the Seville derby on Sunday 2-1.
First-half goals from Ivan Rakitic (a penalty) and Munir El Haddadi put Sevilla in a commanding lead. This meant that Sergio Canales’ injury-time strike was nothing but a consolation for third-placed Real Betis, who are now looking nervously over their shoulders at Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
Real Madrid had secured a vital win against city rivals Rayo Vallecano the day before.
Los Blancos struggled to break the home side down for the majority of proceedings, but Karim Benzema popped up in the 83rd minute to secure the 1-0 victory and all three points.
Barcelona are now only one point behind Betis in third – with a game in hand – as they thrashed Athletic Bilbao 4-0.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang capped off a fantastic week by scoring yet again after 37 minutes.
But it was substitute Ousmane Dembele who stole the show as a substitute as he scored a stunner and assisted Luuk de Jong and Memphis Depay.
Atletico Madrid continued their improving form – after their unlucky 1-1 draw with Man Utd in midweek – by defeating Celta 2-0, with Renan Lodi emerging as the unlikely match winner in that game with two goals scored.
Villarreal are playing fantastically at the moment and they thrashed Espanyol 5-1 to consolidate sixth place.
Yeremi Pino was the man of the weekend after he struck four times, Boulaye Dia getting the other.
Real Sociedad are a point behind Villarreal and also in a decent position to challenge the top four after they beat Osasuna 1-0. Aritz Elustondo got the winner.
Alaves earned a potentially vital point away at Getafe in a 2-2 draw. The former are still in the relegation zone, however.
Valencia, meanwhile, moved up to ninth after winning 1-0 away at Mallorca, with Gabriel Paulista scoring the only goal of the game in the first half.
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