Cristiano Ronaldo was Real Madrid's hero on Sunday with two goals in the late 3-2 home win over Osasuna, dpa reported.
Ronaldo headed in the winning goal just one minute from the end.
A draw would have left the whites practically out of the title race. Now they are still just one point behind leaders Barcelona, with three matches left.
Barca got back to winning ways on Saturday with an authoritative 4-1 romp away to sixth-placed Villarreal.
"We really showed our fighting spirit tonight," said Ronaldo. "We knew that we had to win, even a draw would have been terrible for us."
Real have won all their home matches this season, except against Barcelona, who won 2-0 in the Estadio Bernabeu three weeks ago.
Carlos Aranda took advantage of a mistake by Raul Albiol to put Osasuna ahead after just six minutes.
Cristiano Ronaldo made it 1-1 in the 24th minute with a left-foot drive that beat Osasuna's veteran keeper Ricardo on his near post.
Krisztian Vadocz restored Osasuna's lead three minutes before half-time, only for Marcelo to quickly make it 2-2 with a rare header.
Real dominated the second half, but Iranian striker Masoud Solemani should have made it 3-2 to the visitors on the break.
In the 89th minute Ronaldo won the match by heading in a clever centre from Gonzalo Higuain.
Earlier on Sunday, Sevilla regained fourth place with a 3-1 home win over Atletico Madrid.
Atletico looked tired after their Europa League exertions on Thursday in Liverpool and were swept aside in the first half, with two goals from Spain striker Alvaro Negredo.
Luis Fabiano shot Sevilla ahead after just five minutes, but then limped off injured.
Portuguese midfielder Tiago levelled for Atletico just two minutes later, only for Negredo to quickly restore Sevilla's lead from the penalty spot after Juan Valera had pulled down Adriano.
Five minutes before half-time Luis Perea committed another penalty, and Negredo - who is hoping to go to the World Cup - calmly made it 3-1.
Atletico never appeared to have the energy to turn the game around in a dull second half.
Sevilla now have 57 points from 35 games, one point more than Mallorca, who are away to Athletic Bilbao in Sunday's late game.
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