Real Madrid staged a classic smash-and-grab to beat Celta Vigo 2-1 away and move back to third in the Primera Liga on Sunday.
Robinho's late winner was harsh on struggling Celta, who had chased the three points, having come from behind to level through fullback Angel just before the break.
Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy won and scored a penalty to put Real ahead in the 27th minute.
Real have 51 points, five short of leaders Barcelona, who beat Deportivo Coruna 2-1 at home on Saturday.
Later on Sunday, second-placed Sevilla were looking to join Barca on 56 points in the late match at Osasuna.
Valencia slipped back to fourth with 50 points after edging out Espanyol 3-2 at the Mestalla on Saturday.
Chasing Real Zaragoza let slip a two-goal lead at Getafe to draw 2-2 and stay fifth with 47.
They are three ahead of sixth-placed Atletico Madrid who could only draw 1-1 at home with Real Mallorca.
There were goals galore in Santander where Racing boosted their chances of making it into Europe next season. Striker Nikola Zigic scored a hat-trick in 19 minutes to earn a dramatic 5-4 home win over relegation-threatened Athletic Bilbao.
Bilbao twice took the lead before Racing appeared to stamp their authority on the game to move 4-2 ahead in the second half with Zigic scoring in the 70th and 77th minutes.
The Basque side scrambled their way back to level at 4-4 with six minutes remaining, but Pedro Munitis threaded a ball through for Serbia striker Zigic to seal the win and his hat-trick one minute from time.
Racing climbed to seventh on 43 points, one behind Atletico.
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