Barcelona responded to a turbulent week by producing one of their best performances of the season to beat champions Atletico Madrid 3-1 at the Nou Camp.
Neymar put the hosts ahead after 12 minutes and Luis Suarez doubled their advantage before the break.
Mario Mandzukic pulled one back for Diego Simeone's side after Lionel Messi had given away a penalty but the Argentinian sealed the points for the Catalans late on with a close-range finish.
It was a fitting way for Barcelona's all-time top scorer to round off a superb performance and draw a line under a week of uncertainty following Luis Enrique's decision to leave him out of the starting line-up for last week's 1-0 defeat at Real Sociedad.
Barcelona failed to beat Atletico on any of the six occasions the two teams met last season, but it was clear with even only a few minutes on the clock that they were not going to be denied victory this time.
Sevilla climbed up to fourth place in the Primera Division standings thanks to a 2-0 away win at Almeria on Sunday.
Vicente Iborra opened the scoring for the visitors in the 58th minute before Coke wrapped up the points with Sevilla's second goal five minutes later.
The result puts Los Rojiblancos two points behind third-placed Atletico Madrid, while Almeria remained just two points clear of the bottom three.
Fran Rico rescued a much-needed point as his Granada side claimed a 1-1 draw against Real Sociedad at Los Carmenes on Sunday night.
Carlos Vela handed the visitors the lead by converting a penalty 10 minutes before the break and Fran Rico equalised, also from the spot, deep into the second half.
The point left Granada three points from safety at the bottom of the Primera Division after fellow strugglers Elche earlier saw off Athletic Bilbao 2-1, while David Moyes' side moved up a spot into 12th – but just two points behind ninth-placed Celta Vigo.
Elche moved off the foot of the Primera Division standings on Sunday courtesy of a 2-1 victory at Athletic Bilbao.
Victor Rodriguez put the visitors ahead in the 17th minute at San Mames and Faycal Fajr doubled their advantage eight minutes into the second half.
Mikel San Jose pulled a goal back in the 73rd minute but that was as good as it got for the hosts, as Elche – thrashed 5-0 by Barcelona in the Copa del Rey in midweek and beset by financial troubles – held on for only their third win in La Liga this term.
