Real Madrid moved three points clear at the top of La Liga as Barcelona suffered their second league defeat in four games with a 3-1 reverse away to Real Sociedad on Saturday.
Earlier, Madrid had comfortably seen off Elche 3-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu thanks in part to a spectacular long-range strike from Gareth Bale.
Barcelona had come into the game on a high after beating Manchester City in their much-anticipated Champions League tie on Tuesday, but went behind when Alex Song turned Sergio Canales’ cross into his own net.
Lionel Messi restored parity almost instantly with a clinical left-footed finish.
However, two goals in the opening 15 minutes of the second-half from Antoine Griezmann and David Zurutuza handed Sociedad a deserved victory.