Robert Lewandowski's lethal finish sent Barcelona provisionally top of La Liga with a tight 1-0 win at Real Mallorca on Saturday.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen kept a fifth consecutive clean sheet in the top flight and, along with Lewandowski's brilliantly taken strike in the 20th minute, it was enough to put Barcelona one point clear of Real Madrid, who host Osasuna on Sunday.
Earlier Atletico Madrid cruised to a 2-0 win over a toothless Sevilla, increasing the pressure on Julen Lopetegui.
Marcos Llorente and Alvaro Morata's goals took Atletico provisionally up to sixth, while leaving the hosts 16th, just a point above the relegation zone.
In Mallorca, Xavi Hernandez's side demonstrated they are ironing out the creases which caused them so many problems last season, improving both defensively and in attack, with the relentless Lewandowski leading the charge.
Barcelona's coach earned a new domestic record of 18 consecutive league matches on the road without defeat, moving ahead of former Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane.
Ter Stegen, who has started this season in top form, beat his own personal record of 500 minutes without conceding in La Liga, reaching 534 minutes and counting.
At the other end, Lewandowski leads the scoring charts in Spain on nine goals from seven games, after clinically curling into the bottom corner to break the deadlock against Mallorca.
"This win will help us ahead of some very tricky weeks," Ter Stegen told Movistar.
"The record isn't as important as the win. I'm sure it will give me confidence. These wins put you in a good dynamic, these games mean a lot.
"They help us maintain the pressure on Real Madrid."
"Generally we did very well, we limited them to just two chances, Ter Stegen made a brilliant save and Lewandowski scored a great goal," said Xavi.
"(However) it would be poor to limit it to that. We defended very well. They are players that make the difference, but I would say the team competed well."
At the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan and with only one win from seven league games, Sevilla supporters jeered their own side.
Sevilla coach Lopetegui said he would focus on the things he could control, amid speculation the club are considering his future.
"I'm focused on what's up to me, these are circumstances intrinsic to football," said Lopetegui.
"The situation is not one we wanted. I'm sure the team will turn it around. I am sad today, being weak is something else."
Atletico dominated, with Morata missing two big chances and Llorente drilling into the far corner in the 29th minute, beyond the reach of Bono.
After a mistake by Jose Carmona, Morata doubled the lead before the hour mark, neatly lofting home.
Only impressive saves from Bono prevented Cunha and substitute Antoine Griezmann from adding to Atletico's lead, as they answered their critics after derby defeat by Real Madrid. "The team was a team again, we worked all together," Atletico coach Simeone told DAZN.