A late Lionel Messi goal saw league leaders Barcelona beat Malaga, while Gonzalo Higuain helped Real Madrid record a sixth successive Primera Division win.
Barcelona beat Malaga 2-1 in the late kick-off in the Camp Nou but not before suffering a scare.
The Catalans went ahead in the 69th minute when Pedro scored with a strike from outside the area.
Andres Iniesta then struck the crossbar before Malaga stunned the hosts with a goal from Valdo.
The substitute played a one-two before running through on goal and slotting past Victor Valdes on 81 minutes.
But parity only lasted three minutes as Messi finished off a fine passing move by Barca, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic had a late third disallowed after a foul on Robson Wellington.
StarHiguain was the star of the show as Real Madrid beat Tenerife 5-1 to keep up the pressure on Barcelona at the top of the table, sitting just two points behind the Catalans.
Higuain struck Real Madrid's opening two goals in the first period but Tenerife pulled a controversial goal back through Ayoze Garcia just after half-time
Juan Francisco Nino's cross from the right was plucked out of the air by Madrid keeper Iker Casillas just ahead of Ayoze, but the momentum of the Tenerife player carried him into the Spain number one and jarred the ball loose and into the net.
But Higuain then set up Kaka to make it 3-1, while Cristiano Ronaldo, from the penalty spot, and substitute Raul added further goals in the final 10 minutes to complete the victory.
Real Zaragoza's Humberto Suazo took advantage of some more poor Getafe defending to score both goals in a 2-0 win and help his relegation-threatened side pick up only their second away victory of the season.
Suazo struck twice in the opening 19 minutes, the first following a dismal back-pass from David Cortes and the second after slack marking allowed him to head home Gabi's free-kick unchallenged right in front of goal.
Another Getafe error, this time by Rafa Lopez, almost cost the home side a third goal on the stroke of half-time but Ander Herrera struck the post.
Higuain plays down rowFCD hopes continuity helps defense
