Real Madrid's Brazilian defender Marcelo (C) celebrates a goal during the Spanish league football match Real Madrid CF vs Valencia CF at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on April 29, 2017.
PHOTO: AFP
Madrid maintain the edge as they have a game in hand but needed a winner four minutes from time from Marcelo to see off Valencia 2-1.
Luis Suarez scored twice as Barcelona gratefully pounced on a series of Espanyol errors to win the Catalan derby 3-0 and move top of the table thanks to their better head-to-head record over Real.
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"The only thing we can do is win our games and keep putting a little pressure on," Suarez told Spanish TV station Movistar. "
Jose Manuel Jurado was the Espanyol villain as he dragged well wide with easily the clearest chance of the first half.
The former Watford midfielder's misplaced pass then teed up Suarez to end a five-game goal drought with a neat finish five minutes into the second period.
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Lionel Messi didn't add to his 49 goals this season but still played a vital role as he teed up Ivan Rakitic for Barca's second 14 minutes from time.
And Suarez benefited from another defensive howler, this time from Aaron Martin, to slot home his second three minutes from the end.
At the Bernabeu, Marcelo's late intervention saved Cristiano Ronaldo's blushes despite the Portuguese setting another goalscoring record as he failed to beat Valencia goalkeeper Diego Alves from the penalty spot for the third time in four attempts.
After a nervy start, Ronaldo eased Real nerves as he planted Dani Carvajal's cross into the far corner on 27 minutes.
That goal took Ronaldo's tally in league football to 367 goals to surpass legendary English striker Jimmy Greaves across Europe's top divisions.
However, even the four-time world player of the year struggles to beat Alves from the spot as the Brazilian made his sixth penalty save of the season.
That miss looked costly when Dani Parejo's brilliant free-kick set up a grandstand finish eight minute from time.
Yet, for the seventh time in La Liga this season, Madrid struck as Marcelo cut inside onto his weaker right foot to fire across and past the helpless Alves to joyous scenes of relief at the Santiago Bernabeu.
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