Real Madrid eased to a 2-0 home victory over Girona on Sundaythanks to a blistering first-half volley by Luka Modric and a late Vinicius Jr strike as theysnapped a three-game winless run and moved up to second place in LaLiga behind Barcelona.
Reigning champions Real took a while to settle into the match but gradually began to exert control before a clearance from a corner fell to Modric, whose sublime long-range volley arrowed into the top corner in the 41st minute.
The home side's forwards combined for the second goal in the 83rd when Kylian Mbappe played through Vinicius, who poked his shot under goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga.
Real, fresh from a 6-3 aggregate win over Manchester City in the Champions League knockout phase playoffs that took them into the last 16, are on 54 points after 25 games.
They are level with Barca, who beat Las Palmas 2-0 away on Saturday, but trail on the head-to-head count. Atletico Madrid are third with 53 after winning 3-0 at Valencia on Saturday.
It was Real's first LaLiga win since they beat Real Valladolid last month and Modric enjoyed his goal.
"I was on my own, I controlled the ball, I hit it well and it went in. I don't know if it's one of the most spectacular goals (I've scored). It's nice. It's always special to score at the Bernabeu," Modric told Real Madrid TV.
"A very important victory, we have to stay in the fight," he added. "We played a very good game after the great night the other evening, it's not easy after so much wear and tear to get our heads up but we did it.
"We know we have to do it every night we play and keep growing as a team. It's a very important win and we're still in the fight."
ATTACKING QUARTET
Real's attacking quartet of Mbappe, Brahim Diaz, Rodrygo and Vinicius kept Girona's defence busy throughout the contest but their final ball was often lacking at crucial moments.
Vinicius, who has 24 goals in 39 games all competitions this season, wasted a bagful of chances to net his first league goal since November.
The Brazilian international rattled the crossbar with a shot from distance in the 58th minute, before firing over from close range in the 74th.
Just when it looked like it would not happen for the 24-year-old, he was played through on goal by Mbappe and ended his scoring drought.
Girona's defeat left them 12th in the standings and dealt yet another blow to their hopes of repeating last season's achievement of qualifying for European football.
The visitors' best opportunity came in the 30th minute when Arnaut Danjuma played in Donny van de Beek, whose side-footed effort was expertly kept out by keeper Thibaut Courtois.
"Well, we're a little bit more conservative ... this season, we played a little bit deeper," defender Miguel Gutierrez said.
"We tried to leave them less space in behind. But, again, with the ball we weren't able to take our chances. And so we lost the game."