Barcelona now have a two point lead over their eternal rivals after beating Real Sociedad 2-0 on Saturday with Sevilla two points further back in third.

"I told you that this team was recovering it's spirit, now you can see it for yourselves," Real coach Fabio Capello boasted to journalists at the post-game press conference.

"The first half was good in itself but in the second half we had quality, speed, determination. It was very, very good," added the delighted Italian.

Sevilla were 1-0 ahead at half time after Enzo Maresca hammered an almost unstoppable left foot volley into the corner of the net five minutes before the break.

Real got back on level terms after 62 minutes when an inch-perfect long pass by Jose Maria Gutierrez out of his own area sent Ruud van Nistelrooy clear for his 20th goal of the season.

"Guti's been decisive in the last three games, each time when he's come on as a second half substitute," acknowledged Capello.

Robinho put Real ahead with 12 minutes to go, following another outstanding pass from Guti but the Brazilian's extravagant celebrations lead to two absurd yellow cards in a matter of seconds to leave the home side a man down.

However, Sevilla were to have one of their own men dismissed within three minutes when Aitor Ocio saw red after a clumsy challenge on Mahamadou Diarra.

Van Nistelrooy then clinched three points with a header five minutes from the whistle although a lack of concentration allowed Uruguayan striker Ernesto Chevanton to get one back for Sevilla three minutes into injury time.

"I don't think we've lost the league, just an important opportunity to beat a direct rival," reflected Sevilla coach Juande Ramos.

Real Zaragoza stay fifth after their 0-0 draw with Racing Santander.

A frantic final 10 minutes saw Zaragoza almost grab a late winner with Diego Milito, Ewerthon and Pablo Aimar all going close.

Atletico Madrid remain in sixth place going down 2-1 at UEFA Cup finalists Espanyol.

Moha El Yaagoubi put Espanyol ahead from the edge of the six yard box after nine minutes and slack marking gifted Walter Pandiani their second goal with 16 minutes to go before Martin Petrov got an injury-time consolation strike for Atletico. At the other end of the table, Levante improved their chances of survival and pushed relegation-threatened Gimnastic Tarragona closer to the precipice with a 2-0 win over the Spanish first division's bottom club on Sunday.

"This victory has done a lot to relieve the anxiety that's been gripping this team recently," said Levante coach Abel Resino after their first win in 11 outings.

Gimnastic were dealt a cruel blow when Cesar Navas headed a cross from Levante winger Riga Mustapha into his own net after 26 minutes.

Six minutes before the break, an unmarked Riga found the net himself. Levante are now three points above the relegation zone while Gimnastic are nine points away from safety.

Gimnastic will be relegated next week if they lose to fellow strugglers Real Sociedad, who are in penultimate position, and Levante win at Celta Vigo.

Celta themselves are in a perilous position and remain third from bottom after going down 1-0 at Villarreal.

Hirsto Stoichkov's team couldn't break down Villarreal's solid defence and Guille Franco headed the only goal of the game after 68 minutes.

"I'm still optimistic that we will survive. All we've got to do is turn some of the opportunities we make into goals, but we can't afford to fall short again (against Levante next week)," reflected a disappointed Stoichkov.

Athletic Bilbao, who have spent most of the season in relegation trouble, got a vital point with a 0-0 draw at Recreativo Huelva, despite having to spend the last 22 minutes with just 10 men.

Real Mallorca added to Osasuna's miserable week, after their elimination from the UEFA Cup semifinals on Thursday, with a 3-1 victory for their seventh successive home win.