Audio By Carbonatix
Barcelona returned to winning ways by nicking a 2-1 victory at Celta Vigo as Robert Lewandowski kept his cool to convert a retaken 97th-minute penalty.
The Poland striker put the visitors, who drew 3-3 at Granada last weekend, ahead with a powerful angled drive.
Iago Aspas levelled for Celta, who are fourth bottom of La Liga, shortly after the restart with a deflected strike.
But Lewandowski clinched victory from the spot, leaving third-placed Barca seven points behind Real Madrid.
Leaders Real, who travel to city rivals Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, are five points clear of second-placed Girona after they were held 1-1 at Villarreal on Friday.
Barcelona have claimed 24 points with goals scored after the 76th minute - the most in the Spanish top-flight this season.
The Catalans are also unbeaten in four matches since head coach Xavi announced he would step down at the end of the season.
Xavi's side face Napoli on Wednesday in the Champions League last 16, with the European competition being their last realistic chance of silverware this season.
Atletico Madrid are fourth, three points behind Barca, after they thrashed visitors Las Palmas 5-0 on Saturday.
Marcos Llorente and Angel Correa both scored twice for Atletico before substitute Memphis Depay added a late fifth.
The hosts recorded a comfortable victory despite Rojiblancos manager Diego Simeone resting key players - including France forward Antoine Griezmann - before their midweek Champions League last-16 tie at Inter Milan.
Elsewhere, Cadiz remain in the relegation zone after a 2-0 defeat at 11th-placed Osasuna.
Latest Stories
-
Two-year-old girl dies in domestic fire at Cantonments
5 minutes -
Asiedu Nketiah urges better working conditions for journalists
14 minutes -
JoyNews’ Precious Semevoh wins climate change reporting award at Bono GJA Awards
21 minutes -
Kejetia phase 2 to begin in October after years of abandonment
26 minutes -
Sentuo offers fuel supply reassurance as NPA sees steady output through December
1 hour -
Ghanaian smock showcased at Lesotho Tourism Summit
2 hours -
Four pupils to one desk: The painful plight of schools in New Juaben North
2 hours -
Ipswich launch investigation into racist abuse of Abdul Fatawu
2 hours -
Arrest of Techiman nurse is purely political persecution – ‘Ghana Jollof’
3 hours -
Isak nets winner as Liverpool edge Bournemouth
3 hours -
I dare gov’t of Ghana to extradite me; they can never do it – ‘Ghana Jollof’ speaks
3 hours -
Semenyo scores twice as Manchester City beat Sunderland 5-3 in eight-goal thriller
3 hours -
Parliament calls for government-private sector collaboration to improve waste management
3 hours -
Volta Region described as cleanest so far in Parliament’s nationwide sanitation monitoring
4 hours -
Parliament urges MMDAs to enforce sanitation bylaws to curb indiscriminate waste disposal
4 hours