Barca earlier won 3-0 away at Real Mallorca to move seven points clear at the top of the standings.

Lionel Messi gave the Catalans, missing key quartet Xavi, Carles Puyol, Victor Valdes and Dani Alves through a mixture of injury and suspension, a first-half lead by heading in his 26th league goal of the season.

And strikes from David Villa in the 57th minute and Pedro Rodriguez in the 66th sealed the win.

Madrid, in contrast, could not break down stubborn Depor, Cristiano Ronaldo having a goal ruled out for offside and Karim Benzema miscuing from just a yard out at the death.

Espanyol turned up the heat in the second half to claim a 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad which moved them up to fourth.

Espanyol went ahead three minutes before the break courtesy of an Estrada own goal, Sociedad defender turning Alvaro Vazquez's shot past his own goalkeeper.

Estrada quickly made amends by conjuring up an equaliser on the stroke of half-time.

But Sergio Garcia made it 2-1 in the 54th minute and late goals from Jose Callejon and Javi Marquez sealed an emphatic win.

Jose Antonio Reyes netted a late equaliser against former club Sevilla to earn Atletico Madrid a 2-2 draw at the Vicente Calderon.

Sevilla twice took the lead through goals from Alvaro Negredo (41) and Ivan Rakitic (66) but Atletico hit back both times to deservedly claim a point.

Teenager Jorge Koke cancelled out Negredo's strike with his first league goal for the club, while Reyes, who came up through the youth ranks at Sevilla, netted Atletico's second equaliser with 14 minutes to go.

Elsewhere, Sporting Gijon and Real Zaragoza drew 0-0.