Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 300th Real Madrid goal as the European champions remained four points adrift of La Liga leaders Barcelona with a 2-0 win at Rayo Vallecano.
Earlier, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were on target as Barca eased past Almeria 4-0 yesterday.
Barca took over half an hour to make the breakthrough, but Messi did so in style as he curled home his 44th goal of the season into the far corner.
Suarez made the game safe when he fired into the top corner 10 minutes after the break and bagged his second of the evening in stoppage time after Marc Bartra headed home the third from Xavi's corner.
"It is the stage of the season where we have a lot to play for," said Suarez.
"We ought to show our personality because we are Barcelona.
"In the league we depend on ourselves and we need to continue in this vein."
Madrid suffered a much more uncomfortable evening in a capital derby at Rayo before Ronaldo and James Rodriguez struck midway through the second-half.
Rayo dominated the first period in terms of possession, but it was still Madrid who had the better chances as Rodriguez shot straight at Diego Cobeno when unmarked inside the area before Ronaldo headed over from the Colombian's free-kick.
At the other end, Iker Casillas made a fine save to keep the visitors level at the break as he parried Roberto Trashorras's back post header to safety.
Madrid started much stronger after the break and were inches away from an opener when Gareth Bale's header from Rodriguez's cross looped just wide.
There was then a huge moment of controversy when Ronaldo was booked despite appearing to be clearly brought down by Antonio Amaya inside the area meaning he will miss Saturday's visit of Eibar to the Santiago Bernabeu.
