Real Madrid set up a potentially season-defining clasico with Barcelona next weekend by defeating Sevilla 4-2 to move to within four points of their great rivals with five games remaining in Spain.
Josep Guardiola’s Barca have looked imperious all season but a draw with Valencia on Saturday allowed Juande Ramos’ Real to take advantage, and take advantage they did.
After Renato (16) gave Sevilla the lead in Andalucia, Raul (45, 63, 66) scored only his third Primera Liga hat-trick and although Diego Capel (80) set up a tense conclusion, Marcelo’s injury time strike saw Real home.
The reigning champions now prepare to host Barca in Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium next weekend in a game that will have huge ramifications for the Spanish title race.
Meanwhile, a win over Real Betis helped Espanyol escape the Primera Liga relegation zone on Sunday evening, with Sporting Gijon taking their place in the bottom three after losing to Atletico Madrid.
Espanyol have endured a difficult campaign but a 2-0 home win over Betis sees them move two points clear of danger.
Fernandez Luis Garcia (4) and Roman Martinez (83) scored the all-important goals for the Barcelona-based side.
Getafe are one point behind Espanyol after losing at home to Villarreal – a result that keeps Manuel Pellegrini’s side within a point of fourth-placed Valencia and a Champions League place.
Joan Capdevila (16) and Joseba Llorente (43) were on target for the Yellow Submarine in a game that saw both sides reduced to ten men after red cards shown to Lopez Rafa and Lopez Angel.
Atletico Madrid remain three points behind Villarreal in sixth following a 3-1 win over Sporting Gijon, Diego Forlan (27), Simao Sabrosa (41) and Sergio Aguero (47) on target for the capital club.
Mate Bilic hit a quick reply (48) for Sporting before Simao was dismissed late on for a second yellow card.
Athletic Bilbao look to have secured their top flight status for another season after beating Racing Santander 2-1 in a crazy game that witnessed five red cards and 17 yellows.
Bilbao lost Pablo Orbaiz and Francesco Yeste to dismissals following goals from Fernando Llorente (21) and David Lopez (43, pen), while Racing saw Pablo Pinillos claw one back (57, pen) before the goalscorer, Ivan Marcano and Jonathan were all sent off.
Recreativo Huelva are now four points adrift of safety following a 4-2 defeat at home to Real Mallorca, with Jose Manuel Jurado (10), Juan Arango (15) and Gonzalo Castro (76) and Alhassane Keita (90) on target for the visitors and Gonzalez Sisi (48) and Javier Camunas (81) scoring for Recre.
Valladolid and Osasuna also played out a 0-0 draw.