Argentina football team captain Lionel Messi came to Barcelona's rescue to score the winner for the Catalan club as they came twice from behind to beat Villarreal 3-2 and record eighth victory in a row.
Barca fell behind at the half-hour mark when Denis Cheryshev diverted a shot home but Neymar levelled from a rebound just before half-time.
Luciano Vietto put the visitors ahead again as he slotted home with the first of three goals in the space of four minutes, the BBC reported.
Two minutes after Vietto's striker, Rafinha equalised from close range before Messi curled home to cut Real Madrid's lead at the top to one point.
Barca made the early running, with former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez denied by Sergio Asenjo following Dani Alves' cross. Suarez was on fire but failed to score.
Messi's winner for Barca was his 32nd goal for the season and has helped the club keep current La Liga leaders Real well in sight, the report added.
