Gareth Bale's thunderous header 10 minutes from time inspired an under-strength Real Madrid to a hard-fought 1-0 win at Real Sociedad on Saturday.
However, Real remain a point behind Atletico Madrid and Barcelona at the top of La Liga after their rivals both also won.
In the absence of the injured Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, Bale stood out with a brilliant individual display capped by the winner to register Madrid's 10th straight La Liga win.
“I am happy for him because he has had problems this season with injury, but when he is fit you notice,” Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane said of Bale.
• Also see: Gareth Bale wins it late and Real Madrid stay in title hunt – in pictures
“We could have scored earlier in the first-half, but we had to work until the end against a difficult side.
“I am happy with the performance and to get three points once again.”
As well as the absent Ronaldo and Benzema, Zidane rested Marcelo, Dani Carvajal and Toni Kroos with one eye on the return leg of their Champions League semi-final against Manchester City on Wednesday.
Without the other two members of Madrid’s star ‘BBC’ frontline, Bale was charged with finding the goals and the Welshman did everything but score in a fine first-half display.
Bale pulled his first effort wide on his weaker right foot before James Rodriguez wasted the chance to open the scoring on a rare start in recent months as Geronimo Rulli turned away the Colombian’s effort at his near post.
Madrid then began to show their power from set-pieces as captain Sergio Ramos and Bale saw headers fly just wide from corners before another powerful Bale header from Rodriguez’s inch-perfect cross also fell just the wrong side of the post as Madrid completely dominated the hosts before the break.
The visitors continued to press after the break, but Rulli looked set to end their title hopes as the Argentine made a brilliant save to deny Bale from another fine Rodriguez cross.
Yet, a week after leading Real back from a two-goal deficit at Rayo Vallecano, Bale made the difference again when he got across his marker to bullet home a header from Lucas Vazquez’s cross.
Sociedad had barely offered any threat on goal during the 90 minutes, but nearly snatched an equaliser in stoppage time as David Zurutuza’s header was saved low to his right by Keylor Navas.
Antoine Griezmann scored a minute after coming on as a substitute to hand Atletico an equally nervy 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano
Atletico manager Diego Simeone also showed his priorities lie with the second leg of their Champions League semi-final against Bayern Munich in midweek as he made seven changes to the side that beat the German champions 1-0 on Wednesday.
Angel Correa was one of those handed a rare start and his low drive forced Juan Carlos into an outstanding save after just six minutes.
However, Atletico’s youngsters struggled to create anything more of note before Griezmann rode to the rescue early in the second-half.
Indeed, Rayo could even have gone in front but for fine saves from Jan Oblak to deny Miku and Javi Guerra.
Griezmann made a sensational and instant impact after coming off the bench as he controlled a loose ball on the edge of the area before thrashing a volley into the bottom corner for his 30th goal of the season.
Fernando Torres was introduced at the same time as the French international and should have sealed the three points from a brilliant Griezmann pass 20 minutes from time, but placed his shot too close to Carlos.
Yet, despite a late Rayo onslaught, Atletico held out to record their 34th clean sheet of the season.
That left the pressure on Barcelona in their later game at Real Betis but they were to the task, pulling off a somewhat nervy win against their 10-man opponents.
Second-half goals from Ivan Rakitic and Luis Suarez were enough to see Barcelona to a 2-0 victory and maintain their spot at the top of the Primera Liga.
Betis had Heiko Westermann sent off in the first half for two bookable offences but it took Barca until the 50th minute to take the lead, when Rakitic capitalised on a defensive mix-up.
It was only when Suarez netted a second on 81 minutes that Luis Enrique’s men could breathe easily.
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