Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid thumped neighbours Atletico 4-1 to re-establish a four point gap over Barcelona at the top of La Liga.
Ronaldo thundered in a trademark free kick from 30 yards to open the scoring after 25 minutes but Falcao drew the home side level with a precise header early in the second half.
But another screamer from Ronaldo restored Real's advantage before he completed his treble from the spot after Gonzalo Higuain had been tripped by Diego Godin. And it was the Poryuguese forward who set up the fourth, Jose Callejon firing home late on.
The victory sees Jose Mourinho's side give themselves some breathing space over Barcelona, with El Clasico looming on April 21.
Elsewhere, Valencia underlined their return to form with a thumping 4-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano at the Mestalla.
Having held leaders Real Madrid to a goalless draw at the Bernabeu on Sunday, Los Che coach Unai Emery urged his team to kick on against mid-table Rayo and they secured a half-time advantage thanks to Jonas' 40th-minute opener.
The hosts moved up a gear after the interval, Jordi Alba doubling their advantage midway through the second half. Diego Costa pulled one back almost straight away, but a Jonas penalty and further strike from Pablo Hernandez made the points safe.
Jaime Romero scored and was then sent off as 10-man Granada were denied a vital Primera Division win over Athletic Bilbao thanks to a last-minute equaliser in a 2-2 draw.
Romero fired home from the middle of the penalty area in the second minute before he was dismissed shortly before the break for violent conduct. Despite being a man down, Alexandre Geijo doubled the home side's lead in the second half before Fernando Llorente pulled one back for Athletic nine minutes before the end.
Markel Susaeta then levelled the scores for the visitors in the 89th minute when he fired his shot into the top-left corner to salvage a point.
Sporting Gijon gave their Primera Division survival hopes a welcome lift as a late goal from Gaston Sangoy saw them come from behind to see off Champions League chasing Levante 3-2.
Valdo scored one and set up another for Arouna Kone as the Valencia club twice went in front, but they were pegged back by goals from Oscar Trejo and Alberto Lora. And Sangoy struck six minutes from time to see Sporting end a run of five league matches without a win.
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