MADRID, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Two penalties saw Real Madrid secure a 2-1 win away to Levante on Sunday night, keeping them in the race for the La Liga title.
Real Madrid took the points after VAR played a role in both of their penalties, which were scored by Karim Benzema in the 43rd minute and Gareth Bale 12 minutes from time.
Roger Marti had equalized for Levante on the hour, and the home side were very unhappy about the decision which led to Bale's penalty, as Casemiro was adjudged to have been caught by Doukoure, although TV replays failed to show clear contact.
While Real remain nine points off top side Barcelona, Atletico Madrid kept Barca's lead at seven points with a 2-0 win at home to Villarreal, who remain in the relegation zone.
Alvaro Morata's first goal since joining on loan from Chelsea put Atletico ahead in the 31st minute, and Saul Niguez rounded off the win two minutes from time.
A late goal from Martin Braithwaite gave Leganes a point at home to Valencia in a competitive game in the Butarque Stadium.
Braithwaite scored an equalizer with just two minutes left to play after Geoffrey Kondogbia had put Valencia ahead midway through the first half.
Real Betis recovered from their Europa League exit on Thursday and deepened Real Valladolid's woes as they won 2-0 at the Nuevo Zorrilla stadium thanks to a 47th minute strike from Alissa Mandi and a late goal from the evergreen Joaquin Sanchez.
Barcelona had gone to bed on Saturday night with a 10-point lead over Atletico and a 12 point advantage over Real Madrid after yet another Lionel Messi-inspired win.
The Argentinean scored a hat-trick and set up Luis Suarez for Barca's fourth goal, as the league leaders twice came from behind away to Sevilla, who were just five minutes away from taking a point.
Jesus Navas opened the scoring in a thrilling first half, before Messi equalized with a volley minutes later, although Gabriel Mercado restored Sevilla's lead before half-time.
It wasn't until the 67th minute that Messi equalized for the second time with a placed shot into the top corner.
And he scored again in the 85th minute, clipping Carles Alena's defected shot over the advancing keeper before setting up Suarez to seal the 4-2 win in injury time.
Sevilla's defeat means that Getafe move into fourth place, after strikers Jorge Molina and Jaime Mata both scored again to give them a 2-1 win at home to Rayo Vallecano, who remain second from bottom after four consecutive defeats.
Raul Garcia scored the fastest ever goal in the San Mames stadium to give Athletic Bilbao a 1-0 win at home to Eibar and put themselves firmly into the race for Europe.
Alaves and Celta played out a 0-0 draw, while Espanyol, with China's Wu Lei their standout player, on Friday night drew 1-1 at home to Huesca, a result which keeps the away side in with a chance of avoiding relegation.
