Real Madrid reclaimed top spot – eight points ahead of ninth-placed Barca – following a 2-1 triumph at 10-man Elche.
Vinicius Junior claimed both Real goals, either side of Raul Guti being dismissed for a second bookable offence, before Pere Milla claimed the hosts’ late consolation.
Sevilla are level on points with Carlo Ancelotti’s men – and Real Sociedad – after strikes from Diego Carlos and Lucas Ocampos secured a 2-0 win over Osasuna, while Valencia defeated rivals Villarreal by the same scoreline thanks to Hugo Guillamon’s first-half finish and a Carlos Soler penalty.
In Italy, Juventus’ poor run continued with a surprise 2-1 loss at Verona.
Giovanni Simeone’s quickfire brace condemned Massimiliano Allegri’s side to a third game without victory, despite Weston McKennie halving the deficit late on.
Atalanta warmed up for another Champions League showdown with Manchester United by salvaging a 2-2 draw at home to Lazio.
Marten de Roon struck in injury time for the hosts after Lazio twice led through Pedro and Ciro Immobile, either side of Duvan Zapata’s initial equaliser.
Dennis Praet, Wilfried Singo and Andrea Belotti were on target as Torino won 3-0 against 10-man Sampdoria, who had Adrien Silva dismissed.
In the Bundesliga, champions Bayern Munich bounced back from their midweek cup thrashing at Borussia Monchengladbach by winning 5-2 away to Union Berlin.
Robert Lewandowski’s double – one from the penalty spot – and goals from Leroy Sane, Kingsley Coman and Thomas Muller did the damage, with Niko Giesselmann and Julian Ryerson registering for the hosts.
Borussia Dortmund remain a point behind leaders Bayern after Thorgan Hazard and Steffen Tigges earned a 2-0 win over FC Koln, while third-placed Freiburg beat bottom club Greuther Furth 3-1.
Elsewhere, Bayer Leverkusen lost ground on the top three following a 2-0 loss to 10-man Wolfsburg, RB Leipzig conceded an injury-time equaliser to draw 1-1 at Eintracht Frankfurt, and Mainz won 2-1 at second-bottom Arminia Bielefeld.
In France, second-placed Lens failed to close the 10-point gap to Ligue 1 leaders Paris St Germain after losing 2-1 at Lyon.
First-half goals from Karl Toko Ekambi and Houssem Aouar were enough for the home side, despite Arnaud Kalimuendo pulling one back after the interval.
In the day’s other game, Wahbi Khazri earned bottom club St Etienne a 1-1 draw at Metz by cancelling out Farid Boulaya’s opener.
