Without suspended Italy striker Giuseppe Rossi, Villarreal lacked their usual bite in attack and substitute Juan Albin snatched the winner for Getafe in the 89th minute after their defender, Daniel Diaz, had been sent off just before halftime.
Uruguayan midfielder Albin, whose low shot squirmed just inside the post, was also dismissed as he celebrated the goal by removing his shirt and was shown a second yellow card.
Atletico Madrid ended a run of three defeats in all competitions when a Sergio Aguero double gave them a 2-0 win at home to Deportivo La Coruna in the late kick-off.
Depor goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia saved Diego Forlan's fifth-minute penalty before Aguero, whom local media reported on Saturday had agreed a contract extension, struck twice before halftime to lift Atletico to sixth spot.
PENALTY SAVED
Sevilla striker Frederic Kanoute had a first-half penalty saved as the Andalusians' poor run continued when they lost 3-1 at home to lowly Almeria in the regional derby.
The Mali international pulled a goal back to make it 2-1 in the 83rd before Almeria's Pablo Piatti scored his second of the night to condemn Sevilla to a fourth straight defeat, prompting disgruntled whistling at the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium.
Villarreal and Getafe, watched by Spain coach Vicente del Bosque, cancelled each other out in the first period at the Coliseum in Madrid before Diaz was dismissed in the 41st minute.
The referee brandished a straight red card at the Argentine defender after he cut down Villarreal's pacy Brazilian striker Nilmar in full flight.
The numerical advantage immediately lifted the visitors. Nilmar burst clear moments before the break but his low shot was well saved by Jordi Codina's outstretched leg.
Villarreal's Spain midfielder Santi Cazorla and former international Marcos Senna saw plenty of the ball but were unable to unlock a determined home defence and Francisco Casquero's header set up Albin to snatch the win.
INSPIRED FORM
Almeria goalkeeper Diego Alves was on inspired form in Sevilla and parried Kanoute's spot-kick after the referee ruled Fabian Vargas had handled in the area.
Colombian midfielder Vargas made amends by nodding the visitors in front three minutes after half-time, although television replays suggested Renato managed to hook the ball clear before it crossed the line.
Argentine striker Piatti cut inside and lashed a superb long-range drive in off the bar in the 81st before Kanoute gave Sevilla hope two minutes later when he scored from close range.
But a miserable night for Sevilla, missing the injured Luis Fabiano and Jesus Navas, was complete when defender Alexis Ruano was shown a second yellow and Piatti grabbed Almeria's third goal moments later with a clever backheel.
After a tribute before kick-off at the Calderon
