Madrid came from behind twice to beat Osasuna 3-2 at home while Sevilla won the dress rehearsal for the King's Cup final by beating Atletico Madrid 3-1 at home.
Cristiano Ronaldo headed an 89th minute winner for Real Madrid as they came from behind to beat Osasuna 3-2 at home to stay hot on the heels of leaders Barcelona in La Liga on Sunday.
Barca's 4-1 victory at Villarreal on Saturday had opened up a four-point gap at the top of the standings, and there were nerves aplenty at the Bernabeu.
Defensive errors allowed Carlos Aranda and Krisztian Vadocz to twice put the Navarrans ahead, but Cristiano and Marcelo grabbed the equalisers, the latter coming just before the break.
Both sides missed chances in an increasingly fraught second half until Cristiano rose to head his second goal from Gonzalo Higuain's cross at the end, drawing a collective sigh of relief from a packed stadium.
Barca have 90 points, one more than Real, with three matches to play.
Earlier, Sevilla won the dress rehearsal for the King's Cup final by beating Atletico Madrid 3-1 at home and fired their hopes of returning to the Champions League next season.
Sevilla climbed to fourth on 57 points with three matches left to play, one more than Real Mallorca, who visit Athletic Bilbao in the late game.
Any doubts that Atletico would be taking it easy after also reaching the Europa League final three days ago were dispelled in a frenetic opening, though they had fielded a weakened side.
Brazil's Luis Fabiano put Sevilla ahead from a corner in the fifth minute and almost immediately Portugal's Tiago volleyed the visitors level after a free kick.
Two disputed penalties, scored by Alvaro Negredo in the 12th and 39th minutes, put the hosts back in control and they held firm to take a psychological advantage into the Cup final at the Nou Camp on May 19.
A worrying note for Sevilla and Brazil coach Dunga, however, was that Fabiano had to be substituted with an injury just before the break.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}