Matchday 15 in the BBVA Primera Liga was a magnificent one for Real Madrid as they took all three points from their game, while title rivals FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid dropped points.
As FC Barcelona's title hopes took a major step backwards on Saturday when they were held to a 0-0 draw away to Getafe.
The draw sees Barca slip to four points behind Real Madrid in the BBVA Primera Liga, but just as worrying for Barca as the dropped points was an attacking performance which saw them fail to create a single chance from open play.
Barca failed to trouble their rivals from open play and their best chance came 7 minutes after halftime when Leo Messi rattled the Getafe crossbar with a free kick before testing Getafe keeper Vicente Guaita with another free kick just before the hour.
Angel Lafita went closest for Getafe, forcing a fingertip save from Claudio Bravo in the Barca goal in the first half.
Real Madrid had put Barca under pressure on Friday night with a 4-1 win in Almeria which was much harder than the score may suggest.
Isco put the visitors ahead after the half hour, before Verza scored an excellent equalizer soon afterwards. Almeria's joy was short lived, however, as a Gareth Bale header restored Real Madrid's advantage before the break, although things would have changed had Verza not seen a second half penalty saved by Iker Casillas, before to goals from Cristiano Ronaldo in the last 10 minutes helped put some makeup on the final score.
The scene was set for Atletico Madrid to move into second place, but an 86th minute goal from Lucian Vietti condemned Diego Simeone's side to their first home defeat of 2014 as Villarreal's excellent season continued with a 1-0 triumph in the Vicente Calderon Stadium.
Eibar's excellent first season in the top flight continue with a 0-0 draw away to fourth placed Sevilla, while the Basque derby between Real Sociedad and Athletic Club Bilbao ended in an a 1-1 draw after Oscar de Marcos cancelled out Carlos Vela's second minute opening goal for the home side.
Athletic ended with 10 men after Aymeric Laporte was sent off 10 minutes from time, but held on for a point.
Valencia got back to winning ways after four matches without a victory on Saturday, thanks to a stunning first half at home to Rayo Vallecano.
Sofaine Feghouli scored twice for Valencia and Pablo Piatti's pace on the break helped put Valencia 3-0 up at halftime and despite losing Andre Gomez for a second yellow card 20 minutes from time, they had few problems in holding on for all three points.
Malaga's excellent start to the campaign continued as they took a 1-0 win at home to Celta Vigo. Samu Garcia's 22nd minute side was enough to take all 3 points against a rival who have now gone 5 games without scoring.
Codoba and Levante drew 0-0 in a result that will probably pleases Levante more than the home side. While Granada slip closer to the relegation zone after Cristian Stauni's 89th minute goal gave Espanyol a 2-1 home win over the side coached by Joaquin Caparros.
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