Kylian Mbappe equalled Cristiano Ronaldo's record of 59 goals in a year for Real Madrid as Xabi Alonso's side claimed a morale-boosting 2-0 win over Sevilla.
Birthday boy Mbappe had to wait until the final five minutes for his opportunity from the penalty spot, but made no mistake to match Ronaldo's achievement from 2013.
The 27-year-old marked the moment by performing his idol's trademark celebration and blowing a kiss.
Jude Bellingham had earlier given Real the lead to help lift a little of the pressure on the shoulders of boss Alonso and move Los Blancos, temporarily at least, to within a point of Barcelona at the top of LaLiga.
Real were grateful for a fine display from goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, while Sevilla were not helped by a red card midway through the second half for defender Marcao and boss Matias Almeyda was sent off in the tunnel at half-time.
Three late goals, two from Ante Budimir, earned Osasuna a 3-0 victory over Alaves, while an stoppage-time equaliser from Adrian de la Fuente clinched a point for bottom side Levante in a 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad.
Seventh-placed Celta Vigo missed the chance to put pressure on those above them as they were held to a goalless draw by lowly Oviedo.
In Serie A, Juventus defeated Roma 2-1 to close the gap to within four points of top spot.
Francisco Conceicao gave Juve the lead just before half-time, with Lois Openda doubling their advantage 20 minutes from time.
Tommaso Baldanzi pulled a goal back five minutes later, but Roma, who are now only a point ahead of Juventus, could not find an equaliser. Republic of Ireland striker Evan Ferguson came off the bench for Roma before the hour mark.
Elsewhere, Lazio and Cremonese drew 0-0.
Bayer Leverkusen leapfrogged RB Leipzig into third place in the Bundesliga table after beating their rivals 3-1.
Hosts Leipzig took the lead in the 35th minute through Xaver Schlager, but Leverkusen turned it around before the break with goals from Martin Terrier and Patrik Schick, while Montrell Culbreath made sure of the points deep into stoppage time.
Dzenan Pejcinovic scored a hat-trick for Wolfsburg but they still fell to a home defeat against Freiburg, the Black Forest side twice coming from behind to claim a 4-3 victory.
Fifth-placed Hoffenheim played out a goalless draw with Stuttgart in sixth, while an added-time goal for Union Berlin saw them beat Koln 1-0.
Hamburg and Eintracht Frankfurt drew 1-1, and there was a goalless draw between Augsburg and Werder Bremen.
