Cristiano Ronaldo netted twice as Real Madrid ensured the Primera Liga title race would stay alive for at least one more weekend with an entertaining 4-3 win over Real Valladolid at the Bernabeu.
The hosts bounced back from their Uefa Champions League semi-final elimination at the hands of Borussia Dortmund to close the gap on leaders Barcelona to eight points ahead of their home match with Real Betis.
There are four rounds of matches left after this weekend.
The build-up to the clash with Valladolid was dominated by the future of coach Jose Mourinho and his expected departure to Chelsea, but once the match started it was Ronaldo who again attracted much of the attention.
He helped the hosts recover from conceding an early goal to Oscar, making it 2-1 after Angel Di Maria had levelled.
Javi Guerra equalised before the break for the visitors, but second-half efforts from Kaka and Ronaldo – who also struck the crossbar just before half-time with a stunning 30-yard free-kick – looked to have got Madrid home and dry.
Sastre's brilliant volley got Valladolid a late third, but there was no dramatic equaliser as Madrid ensured arch rivals Barca will have to wait a while longer to take their league crown.
In Saturday's other matches, third-placed Atletico Madrid were held to a goalless draw at lowly Deportivo La Coruna but got the point they needed to be assured of Champions League football next season, while Valencia boosted their hopes of a top-four finish with a 4-0 win over nine-man Osasuna.
Two goals late in the first half from Roberto Soldado and Ricardo Costa gave the hosts a comfortable lead and the second half became a formality after Alejandro Arribas was sent off and Ever Banega scored from the resulting free-kick.
David Timor then also saw red and Jonas added to the visitors' pain by scoring a penalty in injury time.
Valencia's win saw them move to within two points of fourth-placed Real Sociedad, who play Getafe on Monday, and lifted them three points above sixth-placed Malaga as Manuel Pellegrini's men slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Granada, Jude Ighalo scoring the only goal after 28 minutes.
Seria A: Roma's Champions League hopes alive
A late Pablo Osvaldo goal revived Roma's slim Champions League qualification hopes at the expense of a Fiorentina side who suffered a setback in their similar ambitions in a fiery Serie A affair at the Stadio Franchi.
The home side enjoyed most of the possession and had the better chances, hitting the post twice, but there was a sting in the tail for them as Osvaldo's strike with almost the last touch of the game secured a 1-0 win and cut the gap between the two sides to three points.
With three games of the season remaining, both remain in the hunt for third spot which is currently occupied by AC Milan, who have a one-point advantage over the Viola with a game in hand.
Portuguese Liga: Porto put Benfica under pressure for title
Porto turned the pressure back on Benfica in the race for the Liga title as they won 3-1 at Nacional.
They are a point behind Benfica as a result, although the leaders do play Estoril on Monday. The lead duo then face off next weekend and, to get the destiny of the title back into their own hands, Porto need their rivals to drop points.
They did all they could tonight, though, scoring three goals inside 22 minutes to set things up.
James Rodriguez got them going with the opener after 10 minutes and Eliquin Mangala made it two nine minutes later. Lucho Gonzalez added a 22nd-minute penalty for good measure, meaning Daniel Candeias's 27th-minute spot-kick for Nacional was immaterial.
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