Real Madrid moved top of La Liga for the first time since October on Sunday after grinding out a 1-0 win away at Real Valladolid to make Barcelona pay for their surprise defeat to Valencia.
It is 16 weeks since Madrid last finished a round top of the pile and it looked like a scrappy contest at the Jose Zorilla would end goalless until Nacho Hernandez headed in the winner with 12 minutes remaining.
Victory means Zinedine Zidane’s side pull three points ahead of Barca, whose 2-0 loss away at the Mestalla on Saturday under new coach Quique Setien could prove a turning point in a nip-and-tuck title race.
“Nothing changes, we are happy with the win,” said Zidane. “There are 16 games left and we will have to fight until the end if we want something. Nothing changes.”
Madrid now have the luxury of hosting their struggling city rivals Atletico Madrid, who are 10 points back after a goalless home draw with Leganes, with a cushion next weekend, not to mention on the back of a 19-game unbeaten run.
“We are top of the table again after being there a long time ago,” said captain Sergio Ramos. “We have to keep going.”
“Defensively what we are doing we are doing very well, it is our strength,” said Zidane.