Real Madrid defender Raphaël Varane struck twice as his side came from behind to snatch a 2-1 victory at bottom of the table Huesca in La Liga and offer some respite to the Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane.
Huesca took a shock lead against the Spanish champions early in the second half with a vicious strike in off the post from Javi Galán and nearly doubled their advantage moments later when Rafa Mir struck the bar.
Madrid pulled level in the 55th minute when Karim Benzema thumped a free kick off the top of the bar and the ball bounced perfectly for Varane to head home from close range. The France defender then struck the winner, bundling over the line in the 84th following another free kick.
Zidane had lashed out at reporters in the build-up to the game over speculation about his future in light of disappointing results but the win took his side second in the standings on 43 points, seven behind Atlético Madrid who have two games in hand.
Borussia Dortmund conceded two goals in three minutes to slump to a 2-1 loss at Freiburg and drop 16 points behind leaders Bayern Munich while putting their hopes of a Champions League spot next season at risk.
Dortmund, who needed extra time to beat second-tier club Paderborn 3-2 in the German Cup on Tuesday, have long given up on the title but their third loss in the last four league games meant they remained in sixth place.
Freiburg, who won their first game in 11 years against Dortmund to climb to eight place on 30 points, stunned the visitors with two goals in three minutes after the break with Jeong Woo-yeong firing in from 20 metres in the 49th minute.
Jonathan Schmid then shot, which the keeper, Marwin Hitz, got a hand to but sent it onto the post and into the back of the net in the 52nd minute as Freiburg celebrated a memorable win in their 700th Bundesliga match.
Emre Can had hit the crossbar in the first half for Dortmund but they were dazed following the double strike after the break and took too long to react.
The introduction of teenager Youssoufa Moukoko gave them some inspiration and he hit the post. The 16-year-old then cut the deficit in the 77th firing in from a tight angle for his second league goal after a good run from Erling Haaland.
But the visitors could do nothing to avoid their fourth loss in the last five away matches.
RB Leipzig cruised past hosts Schalke 3-0 to stay seven points behind the Bundesliga leaders, Bayern Munich, in second place and leave their opponents anchored at the bottom of the table.
Nordi Mukiele struck in first-half stoppage time when he drilled in a corner to take the lead while Schalke, with only one win this season, defended well for the half but were toothless up front.
The visitors should have scored again early in the second half with Alexander Sorloth coming close in the 47th. Marcel Sabitzer did it better in the 73rd to add their second goal of the afternoon and kill off any Schalke thoughts of a comeback before Willi Orban’s 87th minute header made it 3-0.
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Atalanta were held 3-3 in a thrilling draw with Torino. First-half goals from Josip Illicic, Robin Gosens and Luis Muriel put the home side in a commanding position before Torino fought back. Andrea Belotti missed a penalty but struck just before the break. Goals from Gleison Bremer and Federico Bonazzoli completed the comeback.
Spezia beat Sassuolo 2-1 to move them further from the relegation zone and into 15th place.
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