Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid -- who are now 10 points adrift

And after 17 games in the last two months, including a trip to Japan for the Club World Cup, the coach admitted he can ask little more from his squad.

"When you have to play every two or three days, the only thing I can ask is that they compete and that is what we did," he said.

"We can be more or less precise, have more control, but I am happy with what I saw.

Maillot Inter Milan 2014 2015

"It is another round of games when we have played first and extended the advantage. Now we have to wait and see what the others do."

Atletico face a tough test if they are to keep pace with Barca when fourth-placed Villarreal visit the Vicente Calderon on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid -- who are now 10 points adrift of Barca in third -- will have to do without both Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale for the tricky trip to Malaga.

"At the very least we will maintain the difference with those that are chasing us," said Barca defender Javier Mascherano.

Maillot Juventus

"We are another game closer to the objective, but (the lead) is not definitive yet."

Mascherano was moved from defence into midfield in the final stages as Luis Enrique introduced an extra defender to try to protect Barca's lead.