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Sevilla were unable to close the gap on La Liga's leading trio after they were stifled to a 0-0 stalemate in their trip to Valencia on Sunday, which kept them three points adrift of third-placed Atletico Madrid.
Later, a second-string Celta Vigo side dazzled en route to a 3-0 triumph at Granada in preparation for Thursday's UEFA Europa League quarter-final second leg at Belgian club Genk.
Espanyol were also able to capitalise away from home and dealt Leganes their third successive defeat after triumphing 1-0 at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque, thanks to a Leo Baptistao goal.