Barcelona shook off an improvised four-hour bus and train trip to beat Osasuna 3-0 with a brace by Lionel Messi to stay atop the Spanish league on Saturday, while Cristiano Ronaldo scored a double to keep Real Madrid two-points back and defeat a 10-man Valencia 2-0.
Lionel Messi deftly threaded a pass that led Pedro Rodriguez through the Osasuna defense in the 26th and Rodriguez gave Osasuna goalie Ricardo Lopez no chance with a sharp strike for the opener.
Messi sprinted past the Osasuna defenders and beat Ricardo with a low shot for the second in the 65th and added the third from the penalty spot in the 84th.
The match began 45 minutes late after Barcelona was forced to use ground transport to reach Pamplona because of the sickout by Spain's air traffic controllers which had grounded all flights in the country since Friday afternoon.
"It was difficult for us to get into the game because it has been a long day, but we earned three points in a difficult stadium," Barcelona midfielder Sergio Busquets said.
Cristiano Ronaldo broke the deadlock against Valencia in the 73rd with a left-footed strike off a counterattack eight minutes after Valencia midfielder David Abelda was sent off.
Ronaldo scored his second after galloping from the center line and firing from inside the area.
The Portuguese's goal gave him 16 on the season, one ahead of Messi.
Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas saved a strike by Juanma Mata near the ten-minute mark in Valencia's best chance of the first half.
Valencia withstood the vicious Real Madrid attack thanks to the inspired play from goalkeeper Vicente Guaita.
Guaita held off Sami Khedira when the Germany midfielder found himself alone in the 35th with only the 'keeper to beat.
Madrid playmaker Mesut Ozil drew an acrobatic diving save from Guaita with a curling free kick five minutes before the half, and Ronaldo grazed the left post with a brilliant backheeled try as the half finished.
After the break Guaita continued to frustrate the Madrid attack, denying a Ronaldo ground shot and a smothering a chip attempt by Angel Di Maria early in the second half.
Madrid defender Pepe went to the ground to block a close-range shot by Joaquin Sanchez as the game opened up and substitute Karim Benzema tested the Valencia goalie with a rising strike.
Valencia fell apart afterward Abelda drew his second yellow on a questionable handling call in the 65th.
Pep Guardiola's squad extended its league winning streak to eight games and dealt Osasuna its first loss at Reyno de Navarra Stadium since March.
Osasuna was not intimidated by the same starting-11 from Barcelona's 5-0 thrashing of Real Madrid last week and tried to take advantage of the visitors' travel-weary legs by pressing forward from the opening whistle.
After the initial push by Osasuna, Barcelona grabbed control of the ball and the scoreboard.
The woodwork kept Barcelona out two minutes after Pedro's goal when he tried to return the favor, finding Messi on the left side for a ground strike that skimmed along the goal-line before bouncing off the right post.
Barcelona found the second when David Villa linked up with Messi near midfield.
Ricardo denied Barcelona's third on a one-on-one against Villa with 15 minutes to play, but Sergio Fernandez fouled Messi in the area and the Argentina standout capped the win with a left-footed try.
Osasuna remained in 12th place, six points from Europa League positions and five above the relegation zone.
Also, struggling Atletico Madrid had another disappointing performance in losing 2-0 to Levante.
Victoriano "Nano" Rivas headed in Levante's first in the third minute and striker Felipe Caicedo- on loan from Manchester City this season- scored his fifth goal of the season in the 59th.
"It was a bad game and these are difficult moments, moments of crisis," said coach Quique Sanchez Flores, whose Atletico has lost three straight games, including a 3-2 midweek defeat at home to Aris Salonika in the Europa league.
Levante provisionally climbed into 15th place, four points clear of the relegation zone, while Atletico remained seventh.
Nobel prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa took the honorary kickoff at Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
On Sunday's it's: Almeria vs. Zaragoza; Espanyol vs. Sporting Gijon; Malaga vs. Racing Santander; Real Sociedad vs. Athletic Club; and Villarreal vs. Sevilla.
Deportivo La Coruna plays Hercules on Monday to close round 14.
