Barcelona needed a dubious penalty decision six minutes before half-time to overcome city rivals Espanyol 1-0 in the Catalan derby.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic rifled home the spot-kick after Xavi had gone down far too easily in the area, and the Swede's strike proved enough to give Pep Guardiola's side all three points against a limited Espanyol outfit.
Barca dominated virtually from start to finish, but were missing their usual attacking verve in the absence of the injured Lionel Messi.
Substitute Ezequiel Garay headed home a late winner as Real Madrid came out on top 3-2 in a hard-fought clash with fellow high-flyers Valencia to keep the gap to Barca at five points with a game still in hand.
Garay, who had replaced Pepe just before half-time after the Portuguese international was stretchered off, did superbly to guide in Xabi Alonso's free-kick with seven minutes remaining.
All five goals came in a thrilling second half at the Mestalla with Garay's fellow Argentinian Gonzalo Higuain celebrating a late birthday by twice putting Madrid ahead only for hosts Valencia to hit back through goals from Spain international David Villa and Joaquin Sanchez
Athletic Bilbao provisionally moved into the top seven of the Primera Division by seeing off struggling Real Zaragoza thanks to two second-half goals at La Romareda.
Mikel San Jose and Markel Susaeta netted the goals, both of which were set up by teenage substitute Iker Muniain, as Athletic bounced back from last weekend's 2-1 home defeat to Valencia to move above Sporting Gijon, who face a tough home match with Sevilla tomorrow.
The victory means upwardly-mobile Athletic have now won five and drawn three of their last nine competitive matches since their dismal run of six defeats in eight.
Match Report
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