Lionel Messi struck twice as Barcelona overcame some nervy moments to beat relegation-threatened Tenerife 4-1 at the Nou Camp and move four points clear of bitter rivals Real Madrid at the top of the Primera Division standings.
Madrid travel to fourth-placed Mallorca tomorrow night in what looks like the hardest remaining fixture for Manuel Pellegrini's side.
And they will need to win it after Barca saw off Tenerife thanks to goals from Messi (2), Bojan Krkic and Pedro.
But it was harder than many had expected and Barca were forced to work for their win after the Canary Islanders had equalised Messi's opener through Roman Martinez.
Tenerife's vastly inferior gaol difference leaves them below Malaga, who occupy the last safe position and have a game in hand.
Elsewhere, Juan Mata struck twice as Valencia guaranteed themselves a top-four finish after bouncing back from a goal down to defeat bottom club Xerez, whose Primera Division status is now hanging by a thread.
Xerez stunned their high-flying hosts by taking a 37th-minute lead through Emiliano Armenteros, but Mata netted twice either side of half-time to put Los Che in front.
David Silva then ensured the points would be staying at the Mestalla with Valencia's third midway through the second period, Mata the provider, before Xerez were reduced to 10 men late on when Juan Redondo was sent off
Valencia are now nine points ahead of fourth-placed Mallorca - who have a game in hand and a better head-to-head record.
Getafe were held to a point at home to struggling Sporting Gijon but it was enough for the Madrid-based side to move into the top six while the visitors edged closer to survival.
Miguel De Las Cuevas gave Sporting the lead after 17 minutes but Roberto Soldado, returning after a month and a half on the sidelines, struck a brilliant equaliser with an overhead kick just after the break.
The point was enough to see Michel's men climb above Villarreal who lost 4-2 at Almeria.
Almeria took a giant step towards survival after withstanding a second-half comeback by Villarreal, who had been playing since the 16th minute with a man less following the sending-off of young defender Mateo Musacchio.
The game looked to be over by half-time as Almeria stormed into a 3-0 lead through goals from Albert Crusat and Kalu Uche (2), but the Yellow Submarine put the game back in the balance during an 12-minute spell during the second half when they scored twice through Ivan Marcano and Ariel Ibagaza.
Almeria were also reduced to 10 men when Jose Chico was dismissed, but Villarreal could not force an equaliser and Almeria sealed the victory with a breakaway goal late on from Pablo Piatti.
And they will need to win it after Barca saw off Tenerife thanks to goals from Messi (2), Bojan Krkic and Pedro.
But it was harder than many had expected and Barca were forced to work for their win after the Canary Islanders had equalised Messi's opener through Roman Martinez.
Tenerife's vastly inferior gaol difference leaves them below Malaga, who occupy the last safe position and have a game in hand.
Elsewhere, Juan Mata struck twice as Valencia guaranteed themselves a top-four finish after bouncing back from a goal down to defeat bottom club Xerez, whose Primera Division status is now hanging by a thread.
Xerez stunned their high-flying hosts by taking a 37th-minute lead through Emiliano Armenteros, but Mata netted twice either side of half-time to put Los Che in front.
David Silva then ensured the points would be staying at the Mestalla with Valencia's third midway through the second period, Mata the provider, before Xerez were reduced to 10 men late on when Juan Redondo was sent off
Valencia are now nine points ahead of fourth-placed Mallorca - who have a game in hand and a better head-to-head record.
Getafe were held to a point at home to struggling Sporting Gijon but it was enough for the Madrid-based side to move into the top six while the visitors edged closer to survival.
Miguel De Las Cuevas gave Sporting the lead after 17 minutes but Roberto Soldado, returning after a month and a half on the sidelines, struck a brilliant equaliser with an overhead kick just after the break.
The point was enough to see Michel's men climb above Villarreal who lost 4-2 at Almeria.
Almeria took a giant step towards survival after withstanding a second-half comeback by Villarreal, who had been playing since the 16th minute with a man less following the sending-off of young defender Mateo Musacchio.
The game looked to be over by half-time as Almeria stormed into a 3-0 lead through goals from Albert Crusat and Kalu Uche (2), but the Yellow Submarine put the game back in the balance during an 12-minute spell during the second half when they scored twice through Ivan Marcano and Ariel Ibagaza.
Almeria were also reduced to 10 men when Jose Chico was dismissed, but Villarreal could not force an equaliser and Almeria sealed the victory with a breakaway goal late on from Pablo Piatti.
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