After eight months of frustration and disappointment, Sevilla and Atletico Madrid are finally getting their act together - and pushing hard for a return to Europe.They have probably left it too late to snatch a place in the Champions League, but they are on course to return to the Europa League, in which they both flopped this season.
On Sunday Sevilla beat fourth-placed Villarreal 3-2, whilst Atletico slaughtered Levante 4-1.
They now share sixth place, with 49 points from 33 games, two less than fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao, who on Saturday beat Basque neighbours Real Sociedad 2-1.
Sevilla and Atletico are now four points above Espanyol, who crashed 1-0 at Sporting Gijon.
In the Sevilla-Villarreal clash, Ivan Rakitic shot the hosts ahead after just 10 minutes, then Alvaro Negredo made it 2-0 five minutes later.
Spain defender Carlos Marchena pulled a goal back for Sevilla only for Koffi Romaric to restore Sevilla's two-goal lead. Guiseppe Rossi pulled a second goal back for Villarreal but they were then crippled by the sending-off of Marchena.
Earlier on Sunday, Atletico thrashed hapless Levante 4-1, with two second-half goals from Argentine forward Sergio Aguero.
Aguero is the new Atletico idol now that Diego Forlan - scorer of both goals in last season's Europa League final triumph - has fallen out of favour with the fans and coach, and has been banished to the bench.
Atletico are so heavily in debt that they will probably have to sell both Aguero and Forlan this summer.
Brazilian midfielder Elias gave Atletico the lead in the 19th minute with a powerful free-kick. However, six minutes before the interval, Felipe Caicedo levelled for Levante from the penalty spot, after being pulled down himself by Mario Suarez.
The second half belonged to Aguero. In the 51st minute he made it 2-1 with a precise low drive. Then he made it 3-1 with a calm penalty, after Diego Costa - playing instead of Forlan - had been pulled down.
Six minutes from time, Levante keeper Gustavo Munua clumsily turned an Elias corner into his own goal, under pressure from Raul Garcia.
Sunday's early games all had relegation significance. Hercules and Malaga came back to life with important wins and now have a fighting chance of avoiding relegation.
Hercules beat fellow strugglers Deportivo Coruna 1-0 at home, Malaga won 2-1 at Racing Santander.
We really needed to win today," said Hercules youngster Kiko Femenia, "and thanks to God we were able to. But we still have so much work to do in order to be safe."
It was Kiko who set up the only goal of the game with a perfect centre on the hour for Tiago Gomes, who headed home powerfully.
Deportivo fought manfully for an equalizer at the end, but were kept at bay by an Hercules defence well marshalled by Abraham Paz.
Malaga, for their part, won in Santander thanks to first-half goals from Julio Baptista and Sebastian Fernandez. Markus Rosenberg pulled back a late goal for the hosts, but Malaga managed to hold out for a crucial win.
In Sunday's other early matches, Mallorca beat troubled Getafe 2- 0, with goals from Jose Carlos Nunes and Akihiro Ienaga, whilst Sporting Gijon confirmed their escape act with a 1-0 defeat of Espanyol, on a late goal from Nacho Novo.
The Gijon players dedicated the win to coach Manuel Preciado, whose elderly father was killed in a road accident on Wednesday.
Almeria - who are away to Zaragoza on Monday - are bottom with just 26 points. Then come Zaragoza and Hercules on 33, Osasuna on 35, Malaga on 36, and Santander and Getafe together on 37.
On Sunday Sevilla beat fourth-placed Villarreal 3-2, whilst Atletico slaughtered Levante 4-1.
They now share sixth place, with 49 points from 33 games, two less than fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao, who on Saturday beat Basque neighbours Real Sociedad 2-1.
Sevilla and Atletico are now four points above Espanyol, who crashed 1-0 at Sporting Gijon.
In the Sevilla-Villarreal clash, Ivan Rakitic shot the hosts ahead after just 10 minutes, then Alvaro Negredo made it 2-0 five minutes later.
Spain defender Carlos Marchena pulled a goal back for Sevilla only for Koffi Romaric to restore Sevilla's two-goal lead. Guiseppe Rossi pulled a second goal back for Villarreal but they were then crippled by the sending-off of Marchena.
Earlier on Sunday, Atletico thrashed hapless Levante 4-1, with two second-half goals from Argentine forward Sergio Aguero.
Aguero is the new Atletico idol now that Diego Forlan - scorer of both goals in last season's Europa League final triumph - has fallen out of favour with the fans and coach, and has been banished to the bench.
Atletico are so heavily in debt that they will probably have to sell both Aguero and Forlan this summer.
Brazilian midfielder Elias gave Atletico the lead in the 19th minute with a powerful free-kick. However, six minutes before the interval, Felipe Caicedo levelled for Levante from the penalty spot, after being pulled down himself by Mario Suarez.
The second half belonged to Aguero. In the 51st minute he made it 2-1 with a precise low drive. Then he made it 3-1 with a calm penalty, after Diego Costa - playing instead of Forlan - had been pulled down.
Six minutes from time, Levante keeper Gustavo Munua clumsily turned an Elias corner into his own goal, under pressure from Raul Garcia.
Sunday's early games all had relegation significance. Hercules and Malaga came back to life with important wins and now have a fighting chance of avoiding relegation.
Hercules beat fellow strugglers Deportivo Coruna 1-0 at home, Malaga won 2-1 at Racing Santander.
We really needed to win today," said Hercules youngster Kiko Femenia, "and thanks to God we were able to. But we still have so much work to do in order to be safe."
It was Kiko who set up the only goal of the game with a perfect centre on the hour for Tiago Gomes, who headed home powerfully.
Deportivo fought manfully for an equalizer at the end, but were kept at bay by an Hercules defence well marshalled by Abraham Paz.
Malaga, for their part, won in Santander thanks to first-half goals from Julio Baptista and Sebastian Fernandez. Markus Rosenberg pulled back a late goal for the hosts, but Malaga managed to hold out for a crucial win.
In Sunday's other early matches, Mallorca beat troubled Getafe 2- 0, with goals from Jose Carlos Nunes and Akihiro Ienaga, whilst Sporting Gijon confirmed their escape act with a 1-0 defeat of Espanyol, on a late goal from Nacho Novo.
The Gijon players dedicated the win to coach Manuel Preciado, whose elderly father was killed in a road accident on Wednesday.
Almeria - who are away to Zaragoza on Monday - are bottom with just 26 points. Then come Zaragoza and Hercules on 33, Osasuna on 35, Malaga on 36, and Santander and Getafe together on 37.
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