Third-placed Sevilla slipped to a disappointing 2-0 defeat at home to 10-man Racing Santander in the Primera Liga.
Cesar Navas gave the in-form Cantabrians the lead halfway through the first half, although it looked as if the visitors would struggle when Oscar Serrano was shown a straight red card for a foul on Adriano after 32 minutes.
But Racing rallied and Nikola Zigic headed a second goal for the northerners just after the break.
And that proved to be more than enough to secure the three points as Sevilla missed a host of chances in the remainder of the match.
The home side began with intent and Ivory Coast midfielder Ndri Romaric tested Tono with a stinging free-kick after eight minutes.
Racing made a cautious start to the game and looked wary of the pace of Sevilla's lightning winger Diego Capel early on.
But Juan Ramon Lopez Muniz's side took the lead from their first chance of the match after 23 minutes.
Zigic rose majestically to head Pedro Munitis' free-kick towards goal and Navas was on hand to smash home the rebound after Andres Palop could only parry the Serbian's effort.
Racing looked comfortable after taking the lead, but things looked bleak for them when Serrano was sent off after 32 minutes.
The midfielder scythed down Adriano with a cynical tackle in his own half as Sevilla looked to break, but was probably unlucky to see red for what is commonly known in Spain as a "tactical foul".
Racing were livid with the decision, but their anger turned to joy as they doubled their lead at the beginning of the second half.
It was almost a carbon copy of the first goal as Munitis sent in another dangerous free-kick from the right and Zigic powered a header on target, but this time Palop could do nothing to prevent the Serbian's effort from nestling into the back of the net.
Luis Fabiano and substitute Ernesto Javier Chevanton both missed glorious chances to reduce the deficit shortly afterward, but Zigic also came close to a third goal for Racing.
Luis Fabiano squandered another fantastic opportunity late on and Capel was also guilty of a bad miss as Sevilla continued to search for a lifeline in the closing stages.
But it never came as Racing's 10-men stood firm through bravery and no shortage of luck.
Sevilla can have only themselves to blame, however, for failing to break down a tired Racing side of inferior quality and playing with a man down in a home match they were expected to win comfortably.
Following an indifferent start to the season, Racing have now picked up 10 points from their last four matches and look in good shape ahead of their forthcoming matches against Barcelona, Real Madrid and Villarreal.
They are now in ninth place, their highest position of the season.
Sevilla, meanwhile, remain in third, but are now 15 points adrift of leaders Barcelona.
