Madrid: Brazil striker Nilmar scored a first-half winner as Villarreal beat Deportivo La Coruna 1-0 on Thursday to stay just a point behind the Spanish league leaders.
Nilmar collected a pass from Angel Lopez in the 33rd minute and scored his league-leading fourth goal from a powerful shot that flew in off the post.
Villarreal's third straight win gave it nine points — one behind leader Real Madrid and Valencia — while Deportivo remained without a victory in four games. Defending champion Barcelona also has nine points.
Sevilla failed to join the leaders on 10 points following a 1-1 draw to Racing Santander.
Sevilla went ahead after 15 minutes when Alvaro Negrdo slotted home a penalty at the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium.
Racing goalkeeper Antonio Rodriguez stretched to deny Diego Perotti's clear chance in the 35th before Sevilla counterpart Andres Palop made back-to-back stops before the break.
But Pablo Pinillos rifled a volley into the top corner in the 54th minute to spoil it for Sevilla. After the final whistle, Palop left the pitch following a shouting match with the fans behind his goal. Sevilla has eight points.
Elsewhere, Jose Rondon and Antonio Galdeano scored second half goals to give Malaga a 2-0 victory at Getafe.
Malaga imposed itself from the start and finally made the breakthrough with Rondon's second goal of the season in the 55th.
Galdeano sealed it with a 62nd-minute penalty for the visitors, who played with 10 men from the 66th when Jesus Gamez was shown his second.
In this week's other fourth-round games, it was: Osasuna 3, Real Sociedad 1; Athletic Bilbao 3, Mallorca 0; Real Madrid 3, Espanyol 0; Barcelona 1, Sporting Gijon 0; Zaragoza 0, Hercules 0; Almeria 0, Levante 1; and Valencia 1, Atletico Madrid 1.
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