Real Madrid captain Raul's classy double guided the Primera Liga leaders to a 3-1 win over Racing Santander at the Bernabeu on Saturday.
The striker gave Real an early lead with a neat finish after a well worked counter-attack and took his tally for the season to eight with a rare goal from a free kick midway through the second half.
Real's seventh win in seven home matches left them top on 32 points, four clear of Villarreal who visit Valladolid on Sunday.
Barcelona, who are in third spot on 27 points, were playing at in-form city rivals Espanyol in Saturday's late match.
An injury-weakened Sevilla slumped to their third defeat in a row when they lost 1-0 at Almeria, defender Santiago Acasiete scoring the winner with a header after an 87th-minute free kick.
Sevilla dominated most of the game but had to play almost all of the second half with 10 men after influential defender Daniel Alves was sent off for picking up a second booking.
Racing came to the Bernabeu with the best defensive record in the league having conceded only nine goals all season, but Real took less than four minutes to score.
Ruud van Nistelrooy slipped a superb diagonal pass between the Racing centre backs towards Raul who steered a low shot past Tono with his favoured left foot.
Racing's defence was breached again five minutes later when defender Sergio Sanchez turned the ball into his own net trying to clear off the line after midfielder Wesley Sneijder rounded the keeper and slid an acute-angled shot in from the byline.
Raul almost added a third when he dinked the ball over Tono only to see his effort headed off the line but he got his second 20 minutes from time when he curled a free kick over the wall.
Despite the scoreline Racing played some neat football in midfield and were rewarded for their perseverance when former Real Madrid striker Pedro Munitis fired home from close range after Mohammed Tchite curled the ball behind the back four.