Radamel Falcao scored the only goal of the contest at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, netting in the 76th minute with Raul Garcia credited with the assist.

Atletico now sit three points behind Jose Mourinho's men - with both sides having six games left to play in the season.

Espanyol made it five games unbeaten in the Spanish top flight with a 2-0 victory away to nine-man Getafe.

Javier Aguirre's men went ahead on 37 minutes via midfielder Verdu, before Getafe midfielder Borja Fernandez was handed his marching orders earlier in the second half.

Christian Stuani then sealed the result with Espanyol's second with 18 minutes remaining, and as if it wasn't already decided, then a second red card to the Coliseum Alfonso Perez hosts - this time to Federico Fernandez - made sure of it.

Espanyol are 10th, one point behind Getafe in ninth.

Deportivo La Coruna's winning run of four matches was ended by a 1-1 home draw to Athletic Bilbao.

Bruno Gama had the Estadio Municipal de Riazor hosts ahead with seven minutes to play in the first half, but Fernando Llorente saw the Basque club level at the break with a 44th-minute effort.

Champions League chasers Real Sociedad could only salvage a point from their trip to Osasuna in a 0-0 draw.

They remain two points ahead of fifth-placed Valencia with six matches left, while Osasuna now sit four points above the drop zone in 15th spot.