Real Madrid were back to winning ways thanks to two goals from Sergio Ramos in a 2-1 win over Malaga at the Bernabeu.
The league front-runners, who saw their 40-game unbeaten run come to an end last week before suffering a second successive loss in the Copa del Rey, opened up a four-point lead over Sevilla.
Ramos began the scoring after 35 minutes, escaping his marker before sending a trademark header past Carlos Kameni from Toni Kroos' corner. He then doubled the lead two minutes prior to half-time, poking in another Kroos delivery.
The dangerous Gonzalo Castro continued to provide a threat however, and it was more fine work from the former Germany international that led to the away side pulling a goal back.
The midfielder danced past two men down the left before shooting at Keylor Navas, who could only parry the ball into the path of Juanpi and he finished clinically into the roof of the net.
Real coach Zinedine Zidane said: "We won the game, we started strongly and created chances. The disappointing thing is that we didn't take all of those chances. After the game, the team were pleased because we picked up all three points despite the difficulties we had.
“With the chances we had, 2-1 is a fair result. We're struggling to score goals at the moment and our opponents are hurting us when they get on the front foot. We have to look at it calmly, because that's how the biggest improvements are made. Now it's time to rest up because there is another match just around the corner."