MADRID (AFP) - Barcelona showed real character to stay within four points of leaders Real Madrid with a 2-1 win over struggling Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday maintaining their flawless home record.
Cristian put Deportivo ahead after just two minutes to stun the home crowd but a 40th minute penalty from Ronaldinho restored parity and Xavi struck the winner to make it a perfect eight home wins in the league.
Barcelona, who welcomed Samuel Eto'o and Deco back from injury, stay second and coach Frank Rijkaard will want to stay close to Real ahead of 'El Classico' at Camp Nou on December 23.
"It was not a brilliant game but we won and Eto'o and Deco came back from injury so it was very important," explained Rijkaard.
"We are slowly getting players back from injury and we have a lot more options now and the team is gaining confidence.
"We want to win and play well but we are not at our best at the moment."
Atletico Madrid are a point behind Barcelona in third after a hard-fought 1-0 win over derby rivals Getafe.
Uruguayan international Diego Forlan settled a game full of incident with four sending-offs in 14 minutes.
"It is three vital points," said Atletico manager Javier Aguirre.
"Sometimes you can't win 4-0 playing beautiful football and you need to fight and get physical."
Villarreal slip to fourth after as the wheels appear to be starting to come off their title bid following a 1-0 home defeat by Real Betis.
"Betis did not deserve to take the three points," lamented Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini. "We played well against a team that scored with their only chance in the match.
"We tried everything but it is difficult against a team with ten men behind the ball."
With Thierry Henry still out due to a back complaint Barca coach Rijkaard started with Eto'o, Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi in attack.
For Cameroon striker Eto'o it was his first match since badly injuring his knee on August 28.
With Real defeating Athletic Bilbao on Saturday the pressure was on Barcelona and they had a horror start with Cristian firing La Coruna ahead after just two minutes to stun the home fans.
Barcelona had won all seven league matches at Camp Nou and responded with all-out attack.
Five minutes before half-time Messi was adjudged to have been brought down in the area and Ronaldinho converted the subsequent spot-kick.
Xavi then popped up with the decisive goal on 71 minutes to guide Barca back to within four points of Real.
Atletico are also emerging as potential title contenders but they needed to fight their way to the points against Getafe in a stormy encounter.
On 64 minutes, Atletico saw Argentine Kun Aguero sent off for two yellow cards - one for diving and the other an intentional handball.
Seven minutes later Getafe defender Lucas Licht was issued his marching orders and his goalkeeper Pato joined him minutes later after handling outside the area.
Seconds later Atletico winger Jose Antonio Reyes was shown a straight red for a crude tackle as emotions ran high.
Finishing in the top four looks a tall order for Sevilla although they got back on the right track with a 3-1 win over Real Murcia on Sunday.
Brazilian Luis Fabiano moved into double figures for the season, to top the scoring charts, with a brace (4, 89) and Italian Enzo Maresca converted a 58th minute spot-kick.
Sevilla move ninth but just qualifying for Europe is the aim for the back-to-back UEFA Cup winners although they are still in the Champions League.
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