Real Madrid may not even challenge for the title let alone win it as a shock 2-0 defeat at home to Real Sociedad on Sunday left them 10 points behind Barcelona in La Liga.
Barca took their advantage over their fiercest rivals into double figures by beating Getafe 2-1 while Atletico Madrid and Sevilla also gained on the European champions, despite earlier sharing a 1-1 draw.
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez’s goals were enough for Barca. Antoine Griezmann’s stunning free kick earned Atletico a point at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
Madrid played with 10 men for half an hour after Lucas Vazquez was sent off but by then they already trailed to Willian Jose’s early penalty.
Ruben Pardo wrapped up a brilliant victory for La Real, who had won this fixture only once in their last 22 attempts.
This was their first victory at the Santiago Bernabeu since 2004 and then, Madrid fired coach Carlos Queiroz a day later.
Santiago Solari is not there yet, even if he was asked afterwards if he deserved to keep his job.
“We fight to win the next game,” he said.
The honeymoon period Solari enjoyed in November though after replacing Julen Lopetegui is over.
This loss, coming after the draw away to Villarreal on Wednesday, means Madrid sit fifth, outside even the Champions League places.
“Everything went against us today,” Solari said. “We did everything we could but the ball just would not go in.”
A stoney-faced Florentino Perez was among the 53,412 watching on, the club’s second lowest attendance of the season.
“We will try to get them back,” Solari said.
Barcelona have won seven out of the last 10 La Liga titles and now own a five-point cushion.
If they are to slip up in 2019, Atletico or Sevilla would seem the ones able to take advantage.
Gareth Bale was missing with a calf injury but it was the 18-year-old Vinicius Junior who came in, not Isco.
La Real’s penalty was awarded after 75 seconds and converted after 150. Mikel Merino ghosted past Sergio Ramos and inside Marcelo.
Casemiro tried to cover but bundled Merino to the ground. Willian Jose went high and down the middle.