Madrid, which played without Ronaldo, David Beckham and Roberto Carlos, improved to 29 points, moving it past Valencia and Espanyol, which was to play today.
Serie A leader Juventus drew 0-0 with second-place AC Milan, leaving a four-point difference between the two heading into a two-week Italian league break.
Milan, which commanded play throughout the much anticipated match at Turin's Stadio Delle Alpi, came close when Andriy Shevchenko hit the post in the first half, created several dangerous attacks but failed to break the league's best defense.
The match before a soldout crowd of 70,000 featured Italy's two most successful clubs -- combining for 44 league titles -- which are considered by many as the favorites for the 2005 "Scudetto."
After today's games, the league will be idle until Jan. 6.
Lille drew 0-0 at next-to-last Ajaccio, missing a chance close within a point of French first-division league leader Lyon.
The result left Lille in second place with 36 points, three behind Lyon after 19 rounds as the Ligue 1 heads into a three-week winter break.
Three-time defending champion Lyon drew 1-1 with Marseille on Friday to remain the league's only unbeaten team.
Auxerre moved past Monaco into third place with a 4-3 victory over Nice, trading the lead five times in eight minutes midway through the second half before Benjani Mwaruwari scored his second for the winner in the 63rd minute.
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