Cristiano Ronaldo scored an 89th minute winner to give Real Madrid a 3-2 win at home to Osasuna and keep his side's dream of winning the La Liga title alive.
A draw would have meant title rivals Barcelona could have afforded to have lost one of its remaining three games this season and left Real Madrid with few options and after a second half in which Real Madrid pressed for 45 minutes but was unable to score it looked as if the title would escape from their grasp.
With time running out Gonzalo Higuain found space to cross to the far post and Ronaldo was there to head home the decisive goal.
It was a fitting end to a thrilling match.
Real Madrid began the game with Guti on the bench and Kaka making his first appearance in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in over 50 days. Meanwhile Osasuna left top scorer Walter Pandiani out of the squad to rest him ahead of Wednesday's home game against Deportivo la Coruna.
Real Madrid began brightly with Osasuna keeper Ricardo forced to save from Cristiano Ronaldo, before the visitors took the lead. Raul Albiol misjudged a long clearance and with Iker Casillas out of his area Carlos Aranda was able to take the ball round the keeper and side footed into an empty net. Ronaldo went close again before equalizing after 25 minutes. He was allowed to run at the visitors defense before beating Ricardo with a low show.
Madrid looked to continue the pressure and both Ronaldo and Kaka were a constant threat before Osasuna again took the lead three minutes before the break.
This time Aranda turned provider, holding the ball up before giving Kristian Vadocz and pass that the Hungarian midfielder smashed into the goal from 10 yards.
A minute later Madrid was level as the Osasuna defense allowed Marcelo to head home from a diagonal Granero cross. Ronaldo almost put them ahead in injury time, but his 25 free kick flew just wide of the post.
The second half saw Madrid look to pin Osasuna back in its own half, but there looked to be no way through. Indeed the visitors had the best chances. Aranda saw his close range shot from a corner saved by Casillas on the hour and six minutes later Masoud and Vadocz managed to waste an incredible chance when the two of them were clean through on the Madrid goal.
However, with Casillas beaten Masoud, somehow put his chance wide and against Real Madrid you cannot waste chances like that as Cristiano Ronaldo proved once again a minute from time.