Real Madrid moved level on points with leaders Barcelona after they narrowly beat Rayo Vallecano in La Liga.
Two goals in four minutes gave the hosts a comfortable first-half lead.
Kylian Mbappe cut inside and slotted into the bottom corner before Vinicius Jr produced a near-identical finish via a slight deflection off visiting defender Andrei Ratiu.
Pedro Diaz fired in off the crossbar, for his first Rayo Vallecano goal, in first-half stoppage time to halve the deficit.
Jude Bellingham made his return from a two-game La Liga suspension but was withdrawn late on after falling awkwardly.
The result means Barcelona remain top, with a game in hand, while Real are second on goal difference.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side travel to city rivals Atletico Madrid on Wednesday for the second leg of their last-16 Champions League encounter.
Atleti missed the chance to go top of La Liga earlier on Sunday when the third-placed side fell to a surprise 2-1 defeat at Getafe.
They led 1-0 through an Alexander Sorloth penalty but had Angel Correa sent off in the 88th minute and Mauro Arambarri scored twice in the final two minutes for the hosts.