Alvaro Arbeloa has insisted Real Madrid are happy with a six-point lead over Barcelona with nine Primera Division games remaining, despite being 10 points clear less than two weeks ago.
Real have the chance to extend their advantage by another three points - if only for a couple of hours - on Saturday when they travel to Pamplona to take on Osasuna.
Jose Mourinho's men might have been looking at a 13-point gap had they not dropped points in their recent matches against Malaga and Villarreal.
But former Liverpool full-back Arbeloa was unconcerned, saying: ''In La Liga, we are at a distance from Barcelona that I think we all would have signed up for earlier this season. Nothing is ever final in football and we need to play many more games, very important games.''
Last week's stormy 1-1 draw at Villarreal saw Mourinho, assistant Rui Faria and two Real players shown red cards, prompting a media blackout from the league leaders.
That ended following Tuesday night's 3-0 Champions League quarter-final first-leg win at APOEL Nicosia, after which Arbeloa insisted the silent treatment was collectively agreed, rather than imposed by Mourinho.
''After the match in Villarreal, a consensus decision was made among all the players and staff in the dressing room,'' Arbeloa said. ''We thought it was best for us to remain quiet as we did not want our comments to be misinterpreted and we had a few days of peace.
''But we knew that, sooner or later, things would return to normal. I can confirm, though, that the decision was taken from inside the dressing room. It was between everyone.''
Real appear to be over their blip, having also thrashed Real Sociedad 5-1 on Saturday but, with one 'Clasico' against Barcelona still to play, they can ill afford another slip-up.
Champions Barca have the easier fixture on paper on Saturday, with Athletic Bilbao visiting the Nou Camp.
However, it is advantage Real in almost every other respect. The leaders have an extra day to prepare, having played their Champions League match on Tuesday, with Barca drawing 0-0 at AC Milan last night. Real also do not play their second leg until Wednesday, with Barca's falling 24 hours earlier.
Having won 3-0 at APOEL, Real do not need to worry about resting players on Saturday because they can play a second string on Wednesday and still comfortably reach the Champions League semi-finals. Barca do not have the same luxury, knowing their tie with AC Milan is finely poised.
Saturday also sees the biggest day yet in the race to avoid the drop, with the bottom four all squaring off. Rock-bottom Real Zaragoza, who looked dead and buried a month ago, will look to continue their amazing escape act when they travel to second-bottom Sporting Gijon.
Zaragoza have won their last two games to take their points tally to 10 out of 15 and move level with Saturday's opponents on points and goal difference.
Racing Santander also have 25 points and host fourth-bottom Granada, who are six further ahead and could be sucked into real danger should they suffer a third successive defeat.
Malaga will leapfrog stuttering Valencia and go third in Saturday's other game if they avoid defeat against Real Betis.
Valencia face a crucial home clash with fifth-placed near neighbours Levante on Sunday, which also sees Villarreal play Espanyol, Atletico Madrid take on Getafe and Real Sociedad host Rayo Vallecano.
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