Karim Benzema made the difference for Real Madrid CF as the capital side defeated RCD Mallorca 1-0 to stay within four points of FC Barcelona at the Spanish Liga summit.

With Barcelona showing no signs of relaxing their formidable rhythm on Saturday, Madrid sought a return to winning ways at the Santiago Bernabéu to keep pressure on the champions. José Mourinho's side hardly put in their most fluid performance to see off Mallorca but they ultimately took the points thanks to Benzema, who side-stepped Iván Ramis and buried only his second league strike this term in the 61st minute. Villarreal CF are nine points further back in third after Giuseppe Rossi scored twice in a 2-1 win against Real Sociedad de Fútbol.

Elsewhere, RCD Espanyol continued their push for a UEFA Champions League place by triumphing 3-1 at Getafe CF, a result which leaves them three points behind fourth-placed Valencia FC. Sixth-placed Club Atlético de Madrid suffered an upset, on the other hand, losing 1-0 to David Barral's 51st-minute decider for hosts Real Sporting de Gijón, who climbed two points clear of the relegation zone.

UD Almería jumped from the foot of the table to 18th thanks to a José Ulloa double in their 3-2 home defeat of CA Osasuna and, lastly, Real Zaragoza edged RC Deportivo La Coruña 1-0.

Results

Standings

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