Celta in bottom three

Levante moved to 15th after a comfortable win over bottom club Nastic, who at times looked like a team that would struggle in the Segunda Division.

The Valencia-based side almost took an early lead when Olivier Kapo headed a Damiano Tommasi free-kick wide, while Salva went close twice before Cesar Navas put through his own net with a poor error after a Mustafa Riga delivery on 27 minutes.

Riga doubled the lead five minutes before the break when Navas again was hesitant in the box, and while Javier Portillo sent a chance wide three minutes later Levante bossed the remainder of the match. Riga's pace caused Juan Diaz endless problems while Ruben Perez in the Nastic goal made saves from Salva and Riga, the woodwork also denying Kapo and Nino late on.

Brazilian Gil was involved for the visitors in the dying minutes, forcing a save from Jose Francisco Molina and then inadvertently blocking Ruben Castro's finish.

But Levante were never really in any danger and could have extended their lead at the end when Nino failed to finish a counter that saw them three-on-three.

Nastic remain rooted to the bottom of La Liga, nine points from safety on 24 points.

Celta tumbled into the bottom three after sub Guille Franco gave Villarreal a 1-0 win at El Madrigal.

The visitors were at least a match for Los Submarinos Amarillos for most of the game - Gustavo Lopez and Fernando Baiano both going close - but Franco, who had only just come on, heaped misery on the Galicians with a 68th-minute header from a corner.

Villarreal stay tenth after the win.

Betis were drawn back into the relegation scrap after a 2-0 home defeat to Getafe left them hovering only five points above the drop zone.

The Seville-based side were given an early warning when Manu Del Moral could only head Lucas Licht's cross into Pablo Contreras' arms on five minutes, although they hit back soon after when Maroc Assuncao stung Roberto Abbondanzieri's palms with a rasping drive.

But the visitors took the lead on the quarter hour when a break saw Del Moral find Dani Guiza, who finished low past Contreras.

A similar move on the half hour saw Guiza force a good save by Contreras, and the tie was put to bed on 33 minutes when ex-Sevilla man Javi Casquero sent in a superb long-range effort against his former rivals.

Abbondanzieri made a good stop from Miguel Angel after an Assuncao free-kick was not cleared just before the hour mark and Getafe held on to move eighth.

Mallorca moved 11th after a 3-1 home win over Osasuna, who stay 14th and still not assured of La Liga safety.

The hosts were on top for most of the game with Osasuna appearing to be suffering a Euro-hangover. Gabi Pereyra sent a header off the bar just after the quarter hour, while Juan Arango forced a good save from Ricardo just before Fernando Varela put them in front with an excellent long-range strike on 37 minutes.

Jose Carlos Nunes could have doubled the lead on 53 minutes but saw his header blocked on the line, and it looked like Osasuna had rediscovered the form that saw them reach the semi finals of the UEFA Cup this season when they equalised on the hour, Valencia and Atletico target Raul Garcia finishing after good work by Valdo.

But Mallorca hit back almost immediately, Jonas with a superb solo run and goal five minutes later, while Bosko Jankovic sealed the win with a late header from Arango's centre.

Recreativo were frustrated by an Athletic Club still battling for their lives and thankful for the inspired form of goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia - and the woodwork.

Florent Sinama-Pongolle and Ike Uche combined well from the start, the former setting up the latter as early as three minutes, the Cameroon man forcing the first save from Aranzubia.

Ten minutes later Sinama-Pongolle - who looked desperate for a goal to cap-off a week that saw him sign permanently for the club - rattled the post after Uche's turn of pace created the chance, while Santi Cazorla went close with a header on 24 minutes before seeing a great solo run and finish cleared off the line by Andoni Iraola five minutes after the second half restart.

The match continued in the same vein, Uche denied twice by Aranzubia - chances which sandwiched the dismissal of Fernando Amorebieta for the visitors - while Recre hit the post again through Laurentinu Rosu with nine minutes remaining.

But Athletic - somehow - held on and stay three points above the drop zone, Recre staying seventh in their debut Liga season.

Fifth-placed Zaragoza's bid for Champions League football took a blow when they were held by mid-table Racing Santander, who slipped to ninth.

The guests had the better of the first half, Gonzalo Colsa almost putting them ahead with a fifth-minute free-kick that Cesar made a hash of.

Nikola Zigic and Pedro Munitis were combining well and set up Leo Scaloni just before the half hour but he could only poke the ball wide from the penalty spot.

Zaragoza came to life, Andres D'Alessandro setting up Diogo, whose shot flew over Tono's goal, while Diego Milito did well to find Sergio Garcia just after the hour but the Zaragoza number nine could only head over.

Pablo Aimar started to pull the strings, shaving the upright and then firing over in a frantic two-minute period, while Milito went agonisingly close to converting Ewerton's cross late-on, but neither side could break the deadlock.