Real Madrid moved back to the top of La Liga after Sergio Ramos' late winner earned a 2-1 comeback victory against 10-man Real Betis at the Bernabeu on Sunday.
Madrid are now two points clear of Barcelona after Luis Enrique's side slumped to a 2-1 defeat at lowly Deportivo La Coruna earlier Sunday.
Madrid had trailed Betis following a howler by goalkeeper Keylor Navas in the first half. But Cristiano Ronaldo equalised in the 41st minute and Ramos scored a bullet header from a corner nine minutes from time -- moments after Betis defender Cristiano Piccini was shown a second yellow card for his foul on Lucas Vazquez.
Zinedine Zidane's Madrid side are now ahead of Barcelona, having played one fewer game.
Madrid secured their place in the last eight of the Champions League with a 3-1 victory at Napoli on Tuesday.
A league and European double remains a possibility after Madrid secured all three points Sunday.
They rode their luck, however, as Navas was fortunate to still be on the pitch after a rash challenge on Darko Brasanac midway through the opening half.
Navas came charging off his line to deal with a long punt forward, but he missed the ball and took out the Betis striker instead.
Despite the significant contact from Navas, referee Antonio Mateu Lahoz concluded it was not a foul, and the Costa Rican escaped what should have been a straight red card.
With the incident perhaps still playing on his mind, Navas then gifted Betis the opener. Antonio Sanabria shot from distance but Navas failed to deal with the effort and spilled the ball over the goal line with 25 minutes gone.
Navas' own goal marked the fifth time in six matches that Zidane's side had fallen behind.
Madrid went in search of an equaliser, and after seeing a penalty appeal waved away by Lahoz, Ronaldo hauled his side level with the 210th goal of his Madrid career at the Bernabeu four minutes before half-time.
Marcelo's cross found the former Manchester United man unmarked, and he made no mistake from 7 yards out.
Zidane's men emerged from the interval looking for the goal that would move them above Barcelona, and the breakthrough came with just 10 minutes remaining when captain Ramos -- who has made a habit of scoring key goals for the Spanish giants -- headed home from a corner.
Navas then made amends for his early error as he denied Sanabria with a brilliant save in the final minute of stoppage time to put Madrid back in pole position for the title.