Lionel Messi's 43rd goal of the season gave Barcelona a 1-0 victory at Valencia on Wednesday to provisionally extend the Spanish league leader's advantage over Real Madrid to 10 points.
Brazilian defender Adriano fed Messi with a pass as he sped into the area in the 77th minute, and the Argentina forward slotted a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Vicente Guaita for his 27th league goal of the campaign.
Guaita had stymied most of Barcelona's previous opportunities, including denying Messi four times and making a save from David Villa, who was playing at the Mestalla Stadium for the first time since his move to the Spanish champions last summer.
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola - who made the trip despite a lower back injury - earned his first victory at the Mestalla in his third trip.
David Navarro was left out of Valencia's team after the defender came under criticism for faking an injury following an elbow to Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente's head on Sunday.
Earlier, Giuseppe Rossi scored his 22nd goal of the season to give Villarreal a 1-0 win over Hercules to end a four-game winless run.
Villarreal midfielder Cani played Rossi through on goalkeeper Juan Calatayud in the 22nd minute and the Italy striker's 13th goal of the season proved the winner. Hercules hasn't scored an away goal since Oct. 24 - a stretch of 11 games.
Fourth-place Villarreal moved to within one point of Valencia, which played Spanish leader Barcelona later Wednesday.
Ikechukwu Uche scored his first goal since May 2009 to give Zaragoza a 2-1 win over Athletic Bilbao, which has lost four straight.
Uche had missed most of the past two seasons after separate injuries to his same left knee, but the Nigeria striker showed in the 55th that he hasn't lost his abilities, beating keeper Gorka Iraizoz from a tight angle against the run of play. Uche was in tears as he celebrated the goal.
Five minutes earlier, Jiri Jarosik had capitalized on a poor clearance to fire an equalizer into the roof of the net, canceling out Fernando Llorente's 18th-minute opener for Bilbao. It was Spain striker Llorente's 15th goal of the season.
Zaragoza moved out of the relegation places with its first victory in five games - two points above 18th-place Sporting Gijon, which lost 3-0 at Sevilla Tuesday.
Atletico Madrid stayed within three points of Sevilla and the last European place after Brazilian midfielder Elias' 81st-minute header secured a 1-1 draw at Getafe. The host had gone ahead after three minutes through Manu del Moral. Getafe is five points behind seventh-place Sevilla.
Asier del Horno's left-footed blast in the 77th saw Levante draw 1-1 at Real Sociedad, which took a 53rd-minute lead at the Anoeta Stadium through David Zurutuzu.
Also, Osasuna and Deportivo La Coruna drew 0-0.
On Thursday, Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini faces Real Madrid for the first time since being replaced by Jose Mourinho at the close of last season. Madrid trails Barcelona by seven points.
Almeria plays Racing Santander in Thursday's other game.
Mallorca beat Espanyol 2-1 on Tuesday.
