With Karim Benzema off injured it was left to Vinicius Junior and the rarely used Luka Jovic to step up and secure Real Madrid a 2-0 win at Real Sociedad to extend their lead in La Liga.
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Madrid's young attacking players struck goals early in the second half in San Sebastian to give Madrid an eighth consecutive win across all competitions and pit them eight points clear of nearest chasers Sevilla.
The victory came after Atletico Madrid and Barcelona were both upset at home.
Atletico Madrid trail Madrid by 10 points in fourth place after the defending champions were stunned by Mallorca 2-1 in the capital.
Barcelona are a whopping 16 points adrift of the leaders in seventh place after their 1-0 loss to Real Betis, their first defeat since Xavi took the reins as coach last month.
Manuel Pellegrini's Betis rose to third place, right behind cross-town rivals Sevilla, who beat Villarreal 1-0 courtesy of a goal from Lucas Ocampos.
Jovic has struggled since his big-money move to Madrid from Eintracht Frankfurt in 2019 but, when Benzema gingerly walked off the pitch while grimacing in pain in the 17th minute, coach Carlo Ancelotti turned to the Serbia international and he provided an assist and a goal.
He provided the pass for Vinicius to fire home on 48 minutes for the Brazilian's 10th goal of the league season before he headed in just his third goal for the club 10 minutes later.
Sociedad, who were without playmakers David Silva and Mikel Merino, fell to fifth place.
At the Camp Nou, Juanmi Jimenez finished off a well-orchestrated counter-attack in the 79th minute for Betis.
"It hurts because we should have at least taken a point today," Xavi said.
"Of course I am worried, I don't like losing. But I don't think we deserved to lose."
Betis' goal came just when Barcelona appeared to take control of proceedings with Ousmane Dembele providing the spark as a second-half substitute.
Barcelona lost teen talent Gavi in the 34th when he was carted off, apparently feeling dizzy after the powerful impact of a ball to his head.
The club later said the Spain teenager was released from hospital after an examination.
Meanwhile, Atletico striker Cunha broke through for the defending champion in the 68th, only for Franco Russo to head Mallorca level in the 80th.
Atletico fell into the same trap that doomed Barcelona, pushing too many players forward in search of the winner, as Take Kubo struck for Mallorca in stoppage time to grab all the points.
Australian Associated Press
