Resurgent Barcelona survived a late bout of nerves to beat Real Mallorca 3-2 on Sunday and stretch their winning league run to seven matches.
Eye-catching goals from Luis Garcia, either side of a tap-in from Luis Enrique, set Barcelona on their way and the home side held on despite a 90th-minute chip from Samuel Eto'o and an Andrija Delibasic strike deep in injury time.
Victory for Barcelona took them to within a point of third-placed Deportivo Coruna and kept second-placed Valencia in their sights.
With 11 games remaining, Real Madrid lead the standings with 60 points, following their 1-1 draw away to Racing Santander on Saturday, with Valencia in second place now six points behind them after their 3-0 win at home to Deportivo Coruna.
Deportivo remain third on 50 points with Barcelona breathing down their necks.
Barcelona have an eight-point cushion in the fourth and final Champions League qualification slot after fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao's surprise 4-1 defeat at home to Valladolid on Sunday.
Atletico Madrid, in sixth place with 40 points, have the chance to cut that back to six points with victory over Murcia in a later game on Sunday.