Real Madrid have maintained their perfect run after the coronavirus break to edge closer to a record-extending 34th Spanish La Liga title.
Captain Sergio Ramos scored his fifth goal since the season resumed as Madrid defeated Athletic Bilbao 1-0 on Sunday to retain a four-point lead over Barcelona, who beat fifth-placed Villarreal 4-1.
Luis Suarez and Antoine Griezmann were among the scorers for Barcelona courtesy of assists from Lionel Messi.
Ramos converted a 73rd-minute penalty to give Madrid a seventh-straight victory to remain the only team with a perfect record since Spain's top flight resumed.
"These three points are very important, we knew this was going to be one of the difficult matches we had left," Ramos said.
"This was a key victory to try to put some pressure on Barcelona.
"We only depend on ourselves."
It was a third 1-0 win in a row for Madrid.
With four rounds remaining Los Merengues are on course for a first league title since 2017.
"We can't relax or think about the title until we clinch it mathematically," Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said.
"But I admit that winning seven games in a row is impressive."
Eighth-place Athletic were coming off two straight victories and had won three of their past four matches, with the only setback a loss at Barcelona.
Two-time defending champions Barcelona snapped a two-match winless streak with Messi setting up goals for Suarez in the 20th and Griezmann - who was restored to the starting XI - in the 45th.
Te visitors had opened the scoring with an own-goal by Pau Torres in the third minute, and teenage substitute Ansu Fati netted the final goal in the 87th.
Gerard Moreno scored for the hosts in the 14th.
"These points were important to keep us in the fight for the title," Barcelona defender Gerard Pique said.
"We will keep pushing even though we know it's going to be complicated."
Suarez's strike was his 194th goal with Barcelona, tying him with Ladislao Kubala as the club's third all-time highest scorer, behind Cesar Rodriguez (232) and Messi (630).
Mid-table Osasuna drew 0-0 with sixth-placed Getafe.
Meanwhile, rock bottom Espanyol's relegation is all but confirmed after they lost 1-0 to second-to-last Leganes.
Australian Associated Press
