Late strikes from Michael Owen and Ivan Helguera enabled Real Madrid scramble a 2-1 win at Osasuna last night to kept them in touch with arch-rivals Barcelona.
Trailing 1-0 to a Pierre Webo strike with just 13 minutes left, Owen threw himself at the ball to head home from close range and moments later Helguera stabbed in after Osasuna keeper Richard Sanzol spilled a David Beckham free kick.
The victory, Real's seventh in a row, left them four points behind Barcelona after 23 games, although the Catalans showed no sign of loosening their grip on top spot when they overpowered Real Zaragoza 4-1 at La Romareda on Saturday.
Sevilla leapfrogged Valencia into third place, a distant nine points behind Real, after a double from Julio Baptista helped them to a 2-1 win at home to Villarreal yesterday.
The Brazilian striker put the Andalucians in front before half-time with a clever glancing header and doubled their lead from the penalty spot eight minutes from time.
Villarreal, who had won their previous five games, clawed a goal back in the closing minutes when Juan Roman Riquelme netted a penalty after Aitor Ocio was dismissed for fouling in the area.
Espanyol drew level with Claudio Ranieri's side on 38 points after injury-time goals gave them a 2-0 win at home to Getafe.