Thursday’s Copa del Rey last-32 action saw Las Palmas plunge Deportivo La Coruna into more trouble and Real Sociedad edge past Lleida.
La Real were first up against Segunda B side Lleida, yet the Basques struggled to assert their status as the top-flight team.
Indeed, it was left to Sergio Canales, whose rocket from 25 yards out ended a two-year scoring drought and gave his side a 1-0 victory.
Depor, however, were comprehensively beaten 4-1 by Las Palmas, just two days after they jettisoned Coach Pepe Mel.
The islanders were on a five-game losing run and had yet to win under Pako Ayestaran, but a first-half brace from veteran Momo was followed by a Jonathan Calleri double in the second.
Lucas Perez did pull one back for the Galicians, but the damage had already been done by Juanfran Moreno, who was sent off for two bookable offences in just the 24th minute.
Elsewhere, Levante ended a run of four matches without a win after they defeated Girona 2-0 on their travels.
Goals from Emmanuel Boateng and Cheick Doucore either side of half-time not only handed the Valencians control of the tie but also inflicted a fourth-straight home defeat on Pablo Machin’s side.
Finally, lighting problems resulted in Espanyol’s encounter at second-tier Tenerife starting half an hour later than planned – and a stalemate being served up.
