Real Sociedad moved up to eighth with a 2-1 win at Zaragoza, while Barcelona's city rivals Espanyol eased relegation worries with a 4-0 win at Athletic Bilbao.
In Spain , league leader Barcelona cruised to a 3-0 win at Real Zaragoza with two goals from Cristian Tello and a strike from Thiago Alcantara doing the damage.
La victoria coloca al Real Madrid en el tercer lugar, por encima del Barcelona , que tuvo que remontar para empatar 2-2 con el Real Zaragoza en el Camp Nou.