Villarreal fluffed their chance to go top of the Primera Liga when they could only draw 1-1 at home with promoted Almeria in the Primera Liga yesterday.
Leaders Real Madrid's 1-1 draw at Real Murcia on Saturday had left the door wide open and Villarreal looked to be on course when Nihat Kahveci scored in the 14th minute.
However, Almeria, who had not scored in their previous four matches, levelled through former Real youth team striker Alvaro Negredo early in the second half.
Real, whose goal on Saturday was scored by Robinho, stay top with 29 points, one ahead of Villarreal and two clear of Barcelona, who beat Recreativo Huelva 3-0 in Camp Nou on Saturday.
Argentinian defender Gabriel Milito headed the opener for Barcelona from a corner in the 64th minute, and two minutes later 17-year-old substitute Bojan Krkic steered in Thierry Henry's lay-off.
Lionel Messi was brought down for a penalty eight minutes from time, and he scored from the spot.
Espanyol climbed to fourth on 25 points with a 2-1 win away to Osasuna, ahead of fifth-placed Atletico Madrid and sixth-placed Valencia who both have 24.
Atletico needed a last-minute own goal from Valladolid defender Pedro Lopez to secure a 4-3 win with 10 men.
An error from Valencia goalkeeper Santiago Canizares allowed Racing Santander's Jorge Lopez score the only goal of the game in the Estadio El Sardinero.
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