Barcelona restored their seven-point lead at the top of La Liga after a 1-0 win against relegation-battlers Real Valladolid at the Nou Camp.
Lionel Messi broke the deadlock with a penalty just before half-time, but Valladolid goalkeeper Jordi Masip produced a string of fine saves to prevent Barcelona further extending their lead.
Messi had the chance to wrap things up from the spot again with five minutes left, but Masip made a fine save at full stretch and then held onto the follow-up header from the Barcelona playmaker.
Barcelona opened up their advantage in front of Atletico Madrid, with rivals Real in action again on Sunday.
Earlier, Atletico had closed the gap down to four points and moved into second after a 1-0 win at derby rivals Rayo Vallecano with a late goal from Antoine Griezmann.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone signed a new contract extension on Thursday, and his side ended a run of successive defeats, which including 3-1 at home against Los Blancos.
Rayo remain in the relegation zone following a third straight defeat, but had chances as Adrian Embarba and Raul de Tomas were both denied by Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
Forward Diego Costa made a welcome return from two months out with injury when he came on after an hour.
On 74 minutes, Griezmann produced the breakthrough.
Alvaro Morata's picked out the French forward, whose volley was deflected past Stole Dimitrievski for his 130th Atletico goal, taking him ahead of Fernando Torres and fifth in the club's all-time list.
In stoppage time, Oblak produced another telling save from Abdoulaye Ba's header
In Saturday's early kick-off, Levante ran out 4-1 winner at Celta Vigo, who finished with 10 men.
Jose Morales fired the visitors in front after 20 minutes from a through ball by Ruben Rochina.
Coke Andujar doubled the lead when he headed in from a corner five minutes before half-time.
Debutant Ryad Boudebouz, a January loan signing from Real Betis, was shown a straight red card after 49 minutes for a high sliding challenge on Borja Mayoral.
Morales added a second on the hour, before the home side pulled a goal back from a penalty by Brais Mendez.
Levante, though, swiftly hit a fourth goal though Mayoral to condemn Celta Vigo to a seventh loss in the last eight LaLiga games.
Elsewhere, Mikel Oyarzabal scored twice as Real Sociedad swept past Leganes 3-0 at Estadio Anoeta.
Oyarzabal headed the home side in front five minutes into the second half, and struck again on the hour when slotting in after the ball broke to him in the area.
Willian Jose added a third when he headed in from a free-kick on 75 minutes as Real Sociedad climbed to seventh.
