Zlatan Ibrahimovic continued to impress in Barcelona colours as he took his Primera Liga goal tally into double figures during the 3-1 dismissal of Deportivo, while Cristiano Ronaldo saw as Real Madrid also won.
Barca made the journey to La Coruna to take on a high-flying Deportivo side who were fifth in the table after winning their last three league games going into the Saturday evening clash.
The visitors started the match with their lead at the top cut down to two points by Real, who overcame Almeria earlier, but it was not long until the Catalans took the lead through recent Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi in the 27th minute.
But Depor had not read the script and went into the break on level terms when Adrian equalised in the 39th minute via a set-piece situation.
Barca boss Pep Guardiola kept faith in his starting XI in the second half and he was rewarded when Messi regained the lead in the 80th minute to score his ninth league goal of the campaign and 11 in all competitions.
And Imbrahimovic, in his first season with the Spanish giants, wrapped up proceedings as he reached 10 league goals, finishing from Eric Abidal's cross two minutes before stoppage time.
Real Madrid bounced back from last weekend's defeat by Barca to beat Almeria 4-2 in an incident-packed Primera Division match which saw Ronaldo score before seeing red.
Ronaldo, starting his first home match in over two months following an ankle injury, also created a goal and missed a penalty as Madrid made hard work of seeing off lowly Almeria.
There was little sign of the drama to come as Manuel Pellegrini's men ended an impressive first-half display 1-0 up thanks to Sergio Ramos' header.
But Almeria, who did not have a shot in anger in the opening period, stunned their hosts with two goals in three minutes from Fernando Soriano and Kalu Uche to lead 2-1.
That sparked the home side into action, and Madrid responded with goals from Gonzalo Higuain, Karim Benzema - who netted after Ronaldo's penalty had been saved - and then Ronaldo in the final 17 minutes.
The former Manchester United man was booked for taking his shirt off to celebrate that goal, and that proved costly as four minutes later he was handed his marching orders after picking up a second yellow following a tussle with Michel.
His dismissal did not cost Madrid too dearly, though, as they held on to make it seven home wins from seven and keep the pressure up on leaders Barca.
Third-placed Sevilla saw their title hopes suffer a setback as they were held 1-1 by 10-man Valladolid.
Manolo Jimenez's side went behind after 33 minutes when Angola striker Manucho gave the visitors a surprise lead.
But Valladolid found themselves a man down five minutes later after Borja Fernandez was sent off for a cynical lunge on Diego Perotti.
Jose Luis Mendilibar's side conceded a penalty on the stroke of half-time which Luis Fabiano converted.
But Sevilla failed to make their numerical advantage count and were unable to make up any ground on the top two.
Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero were on target as Atletico Madrid beat Xerez 2-0.
Forlan converted a cross from Jose Antonio Reyes for the opener after 29 minutes and strike partner Aguero struck the second after 65 minutes as Atletico secured a second successive victory.
