( CNN ) -- The Spanish title race is shaping up to be one of the closest in years -- and the battle for the `` Pichichi '' is also hotting up . While Atletico Madrid matched the 1-0 victory by league-leading city rival Real on Saturday , Diego Costa kept in touch with Cristiano Ronaldo at the top of the La Liga scoring charts by emulating the world player of the year 's decisive strike . Ronaldo 's first-half winner at Malaga meant Real will head into next weekend 's `` El Clasico '' clash with defending champion Barcelona holding a three-point advantage over second-placed Atletico . It was his 25th goal in the league this season and 39th in all competitions , with Ronaldo firing home in trademark style after cutting into the penalty area from the left following a crossfield pass from Gareth Bale . Ronaldo missed several other chances , and his collision with teammate Karim Benzema resulted in the France striker going off injured . `` We had chances to score the second goal but unfortunately we were n't able to get it and then when the score is 1-0 you always suffer , '' said coach Carlo Ancelotti . `` It was n't a great game in terms of how we played , but we showed good attitude and were very solid defensively . '' Brazil-born Costa , hoping to win a World Cup place this year with his adopted Spain , netted for the 22nd time in the league -- and 30th overall -- as he broke clear of the visiting Espanyol defense 10 minutes after halftime and coolly beat the keeper . The Madrid clubs are moving clear of Barca , who are seven points behind Real ahead of Sunday 's home clash with Osasuna . Lionel Messi has won the Pichichi Trophy for the past two years , but is 10 behind Ronaldo after an injury-hit season so far . The Argentine is not even Barcelona 's top scorer in the league -- that honor goes to Chile 's Alexis Sanchez , who has 16 . In Saturday 's other matches , Celta Vigo won 1-0 at fellow midtable side Levante while Rayo Vallecano moved three points clear of the relegation zone with a 3-1 win over second-bottom Almeria . German Bundesliga . Champions Bayern Munich moved 23 points clear at the top of the table with a 2-1 win at home to fourth-placed Bayer Leverkusen , meaning coach Josep Guardiola could win his first league title with the club next weekend with eight matches to spare . Goals from Mario Mandzukic and Bastian Schweinsteiger helped the European champions shrug off the midweek jailing of club president Uli Hoeness for tax evasion , as Stefan Kiessling 's late consolation could not prevent Bayern 's 16th successive league win . Second-placed Borussia Dortmund suffered a 2-1 home defeat by Borussia Monchengladbach , and Jurgen Klopp 's team will surrender the title race if more points are dropped next weekend . Schalke , who moved up to third with Friday 's 2-1 win over Augsburg , must also win to stop Bayern clinching a second successive title -- and 24th overall . Dortmund 's defeat meant Schalke closed to within a point of their rivals ahead of the derby clash on March 25 . Italian Serie A. Inter Milan moved up to fourth place with a 2-0 win at Verona , thanks to goals from Argentine forward Rodrigo Palacio and Brazilian defender Jonathan . It was the third win in a row for Walter Mazzarri 's side , but Fiorentina can reclaim the Europa League berth by beating Chievo Verona on Sunday . French Ligue 1 . Third-placed Lille missed a chance to close the gap on Monaco in second after being held 0-0 at home by Nantes . Monaco travel to fifth-placed Lyon on Saturday , while champions Paris Saint-Germain will seek to extend an eight-point advantage at the top against fourth side St. Etienne .
Cristiano Ronaldo scores winner at Malaga to maintain Real Madrid 's lead . The win means that Barcelona are now level on points with the Spanish champions and will have a chance of winning their first European Cup since 1958. Bayern Munich march closer to a 24th German Bundesliga title . Inter Milan 's European hopes boosted by third successive Serie A win .