Barcelona defeat Atletico to close in on Real Madrid

Barcelona produced one of their best performances of the season on Sunday night to beat Primera Division champions Atletico Madrid 3-1 at the Nou Camp - and move within a point of leaders Real Madrid.

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 Catalan outfit late on with a close-range finish.

Elsewhere, Sevilla climbed up to fourth place thanks to a 2-0 win at Almeria.

Vicente Iborra opened the scoring for the visitors in the 58th minute and Coke wrapped up the points with Sevilla's second goal five minutes later.

The result put Unai Emery's side two points behind third-placed Atletico, 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.

Carlos Vela handed the visitors the lead by converting a penalty 10 minutes before the break but Rico equalised, also from the spot, deep into the second half.

The point left Granada two points from safety at the bottom, while David Moyes' side moved up a position to 12th - but just two points behind ninth-placed Celta Vigo.

Elche moved off the foot of the standings 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 Barca in the Copa del Rey in midweek and beset by financial troubles - held on for only their third win in La Liga this term.

On Saturday, Real Madrid put a forgettable week behind them as they got back to winning ways with a 3-0 victory over Espanyol at the Bernabeu.

Carlo Ancelotti's men were beaten by Valencia last Sunday and city rivals Atletico in the Copa Del Rey in midweek, but goals from James Rodriguez, Gareth Bale and Nacho Fernandez ensured they avoided a hat-trick of defeats.

It was, though, a third loss in seven days for Espanyol, who could not capitalise despite the hosts having Fabio Coentrao sent off shortly after half-time.

Valencia wasted an opportunity to gain ground on their rivals for a Champions League spot as they were held to a 1-1 draw at Celta Vigo.

Rodrigo Moreno gave the visitors the lead just before half-time after Fabian Orellana had missed a penalty, but the Chilean made up for his error by grabbing the equaliser in the second half.

The 1-1 draw between Malaga and Villarreal earlier in the day presented Nuno Espirito Santo's side with the chance to widen the gap with the other Champions League contenders, but they could be unseated in fourth spot on Sunday if Sevilla beat Almeria.

Celta meanwhile will be relieved at picking up their first point in seven league matches and scoring their first league goal in 727 minutes, and the Galicians move up to ninth in the table.

Villarreal stretched their unbeaten run to 13 matches but were unable to put any more daylight between themselves and rival European hopefuls Malaga as the two teams shared a 1-1 draw on Saturday evening.

Jonathan Dos Santos' thunderous volley on the stroke of half-time put Villarreal ahead at La Rosaleda but Malaga fought back and Nordin Amrabat's equaliser on the hour mark levelled things up.

The result keeps sixth-placed Villarreal one point and one place ahead of Malaga in the table, but both clubs have now played two more games than Sevilla in fifth and could end up looking back on Saturday's match as a missed opportunity.

Quique Sanchez Flores' first league game since his return as Getafe coach ended in a 2-1 defeat at Eibar.

Goals from Manu Del Moral and Ander Capa put the home side in he driving seat, and although Diego Castro pulled a goal back 10 minutes from time, Getafe were unable to add to their tally.

On Friday night, Levante and Deportivo La Coruna put slightly more daylight between themselves and the relegation zone after playing out a goalless draw at Ciutat de Valencia.