Lionel Messi helped earn Barcelona a come-from behind 3-2 win over Villarreal in La Liga on Sunday, while Sevilla beat Espanyol by the same scoreline.
Lionel Messi: Scored superb winner for Barcelona
Villarreal, unbeaten in any competition since the start of November, were briefly on course for their first win over Barca in 12 attempts thanks to goals from Denis Cheryshev and Luciano Vietto, which sandwiched a Neymar equaliser at the Nou Camp.
However, Barca then struck twice in quick succession during a frenetic start to the second half to record an eighth successive win in league and cup, Rafinha drawing the teams level before Messi curled home a stunning 20-yard strike.
Villarreal pushed for an equaliser but Barca held firm to remain a point behind Real Madrid at the top of the Primera Division.
There was another five-goal thriller at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, where a last-minute Iago Aspas goal earned Sevilla a 3-2 win over an Espanyol side who played the entire second half with 10 men after goalkeeper Kiko Casilla was sent off.
Christian Stuani put visitors Espanyol ahead from the penalty spot but the hosts levelled through a stunning strike from Diogo Figueiras and then Vitolo tapped home from close range to put Unai Emery's side ahead before the break.
Casilla was then handed his marching orders in the 40th minute but Sevilla were unable to capitalise on their man advantage in the second half and were left stunned by Victor Sanchez's 77th-minute equaliser.
However, on-loan Liverpool striker Aspas scored the decisive goal in what was his first league start for the club to move Sevilla one point clear of fellow Champions League chasers Valencia and into fourth place.
Elsewhere, a brace from striker Aritz Aduriz saw Athletic Bilbao record a first Primera Division victory in over two months at the expense of bottom club Levante.
The Copa del Rey semi-finalists were without a league win since taking all three points at Getafe on November 29 but Aduriz's double earned them a 2-0 win.
Almeria were also celebrating a rare success, with Edgar Mendez's 44th-minute goal earning them a 1-0 victory - their first at home this season - over fellow strugglers Getafe.
Both sides finished the match with 10 men, with Almeria forward Tomer Hemed following Getafe's Sergio Escudero down the tunnel after both picked up second yellow cards.