Atletico Madrid remain four points clear of Real Madrid in second after a 1-0 win at home to Espanyol in the 25th round of Spain's Primera Liga on Sunday.

Radamel Falcao's first half penalty marked the difference between the two sides.

The overriding feeling after matchday 25, however, is that for FC Barcelona and Real Madrid this weekend's matches were merely an unwanted prelude before they get down to the serious business of their Copa del Rey semi-final return leg in the Camp Nou Stadium on Tuesday night.

The two sides go into that game with the score tied 1-1.

Now Barca 15 points ahead of Real Madrid and 12 ahead of Atletico Madrid, there is little doubt over the destination of this season's league title.

As a result Barca rested key players for their home match against Sevilla on Saturday night, which at least gave the chance for David Villa to vindicate his claim to a first team place ahead of Alexis Sanchez.

Barca had trailed to a header from Alvaro Botia late in the first half, but the introduction of Christian Tello was vital as he injected pace into the Barca side, as well as setting up Leo Messi for the second goal of a 2-1 win.

Barca, will however need to improve on their defensive record which has seen them concede in their last 11 games if they are to beat a Madrid side which struggled against rock bottom Deportivo la Coruna.

Riki's 10th goal of the season had put Deportivo ahead and Madrid only reacted when Jose Mourinho introduced substitutes Cristiano Ronaldo, Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira. Kaka equalized with a fine goal before Gonzalo Higuain netted a simple tap in in the 89th minute.

Real Sociedad also kept up their challenge for a place in Europe with a 3-1 win away to local rivals, Athletic Club Bilbao on Friday night.

Athletic had taken the lead in the last derby to be played in their San Mames stadium thanks to an Ibai Gomez volley, but with home keeper, Raul Fernandez looking nervous, Antoine Griezmann, Imanol Agirrretxe and Carlos Vela turned the result around.

Athletic can now consider themselves to be in a battle to avoid relegation and will be grateful Valencia fought back from two goals down to take a point from Zaragoza, who have still not won in 2013.

Zaragoza had led through Apono and Helder Postiga, but two goals from Jonas Goncalves gave Valencia a valuable point.

Celta Vigo gave Abel Resino a winning debut as coach thanks to goals from Iago Aspes and Mario Bermejo in a 2-1 win at home to Granada. Celta are still in the relegation zone, but have opened a gap over bottom pair, Deportivo and Mallorca.

Mallorca crashed to a 3-1 defeat at home to Getafe, who came back from a goal down with a Diego Castro penalty and two second half goals from Adrian Colunga.

Betis got their European ambitions back on track with a convincing 3-0 win over a tired looking Malaga, who perhaps paid for their European efforts in midweek. Jorge Molina opened the scoring in the first minute before Mario and Doblan Pabon wrapped up the scoring before the break.

Meanwhile Valladolid took a surprise 2-1 win away to Rayo Vallecano in a match between two sides who look destined to finish in mid-table.

Monday sees the round of matches come to an end as Levante entertain Osasuna.