Atletico Madrid responded to Real Madrid as it beat Rayo Vallecano 1-0 at the Vicente Calderon to keep pace in the Liga title race without Diego Simeone.
Real had beaten Real Sociedad 1-0 earlier on Saturday, but Atletico remains a point ahead of its local rival after Antoine Griezmann's decisive strike.
Simeone was absent from the touchline after receiving a ban for his part in the throwing of a ball to disrupt a Malaga attack last weekend, and seven changes from its midweek Champions League win over Bayern Munich resulted in a disorganised first-half showing. But Griezmann needed just 34 seconds after coming on as a substitute to settle the game, registering his 21st league goal of the season - five of which have come in 1-0 wins.
Attention will now turn to Tuesday's semi-final second leg in Munich as Atletico looks to defend another 1-0 lead, given to them by Saul Niguez's stunner, which would take it into a second Champions League final in three years.
Rayo has been outscored by just six teams in La Liga this term, but it could not break down Atletico's iron-cast defence and remains at threat of relegation.
Angel Correa brought a stunning early save out of Rayo goalkeeper Juan Carlos, but it was Atletico's only sight of goal in an otherwise badly disjointed opening half an hour.
Sensing its much-changed opponent was struggling, Rayo began to pour forward with typical reckless abandon, but Miku found Jan Oblak tough to beat and Adri Embarba oddly opted to cross after bursting clear on goal in the left channel. Correa was Atletico's only bright spark and he brought the crowd to their feet with a stunning flick over his man, but the finish summed up his side's efforts as he scuffed it straight at the keeper.
Koke was introduced in place of Gabi at half-time as Atletico sought control of the game, but Rayo remained on top and Javi Guerra ought to have done better than shoot straight at Oblak after latching on to Bebe's cross.
Simeone's assistant German Burgos responded by throwing Griezmann and Fernando Torres on and the Frenchman had an instant impact, chesting the ball down and smashing a 20-yard half-volley past a helpless Juan Carlos.
Griezmann's addition especially had Atletico in full stride and he zipped down the right flank before squaring for an open Torres, but the in-form striker took the effort on his weaker left foot and could not beat the keeper.
But one was enough for the fourth game in row, with fixtures against rock-bottom Levante and Celta Vigo to come as the title race goes down to the wire.
Key Opta stats
- Atletico has lost just one of its last 13 La Liga games against Rayo (W9 D3), 2-1 at Vallecas in February 2013.
- Atletico has won its last six league games against Rayo at the Vicente Calderon, which is its best run against Rayo in the top-flight.
- Atletico has gone 18 Madrid derbies without a defeat (W15 D3), conceding goals in five of them.
- Simeone's side has only conceded one goal in the first half in its last eight league games, against Espanyol.
- Griezmann (21) has only one goal less than in his best goalscoring campaing in La Liga (22).
- Atletico has won the most games by one goal in this La Liga season (12, level with Celta).
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