Atletico Madrid crashed to yet another defeat just three days ahead of their vital Champions League visit to play Chelsea in Stamford Bridge. Atletico were beaten 3-0 away to Osasuna in a game where the team coached by Abel Resino paid for making basic defensive errors in the first half.
Walter Pandiani and Carlos Aranda took advantage of some slack marking to put Osasuna 3-0 up after just 30 minutes.
Pandiani netted twice as Atletico showed an inability to defend crosses into the penalty area.
Defeat against Chelsea on Wednesday would leave Atletico virtually eliminated from Europe and Abel's job could well be in the line.
Villarreal coach Ernesto Valverde is also under huge pressure after his side became Xerez's first victims of the season.
The two teams had kicked off last and second from bottom in the table and the defeat leaves Villarreal bottom.
Robert Pires struck first for Villarreal after just 17 minutes, but Mario Bermejo levelled the match with three minutes until halftime with only Xerez's second goal of the campaign.
Former Sevilla forward Antonito scored the winning goal, all beit after a clear handball, with 11 minutes left in the game.
The win also lifts Xerez above Malaga, who lost 2-1 at home to Almeria.
Almeria left Malaga reeling in two minutes just before halftime. Cisma and Soriano scored after 39 and 40 minutes, with Cisma's effort coming from a direct free kick.
Eidinho puled one back for Malaga with 22 minutes remaining, but Almeria hung on to take the points in a tense derby.
Racing Santander meanwhile scored two late goals to snatch a late point away to Zaragoza.
Zaragoza opened the scoring on 22 minutes thanks to Paco Pavon who headed home a cross from Jermaine Pennant, while Arizmendi doubled the home side's advantage 11 minutes later.
However, Tchite pulled a goal back for Racing after 81 minutes and Oscar Serrano rescued an unlikely point with just five minutes remaining.
Athletic Bilbao will feel hard done by after a 2-1 home defeat against Sporting Gijon.
Athletic had most of the ball and the majority of the chances but went 2-0 down after Miguel de las Cuevas scored a free kick after 65 minutes and then finished off a counterattack 11 minutes later.
Gaizka Toquero pulled a goal back for Athletic with 10 minutes left, but Sporting held grimly on for their first win in Bilbao since the 1990/91 season.
Finally Mallorca defeated Getafe 3-1 thanks in part to two goals from striker Aritz Aduriz, while Espanyol was able to forget its internal problems with a 2-1 home win against a Tenerife side that has yet to take a point away from home.