Real Madrid hit the woodwork three times and Cristiano Ronaldo missed a penalty as they drew with Valencia to devastate their title hopes.
Real came from 2-0 down to draw but they trail Barcelona by four points with two games left.
Paco Alcacer gave fourth-placed Valencia the lead from close range and Javi Fuego headed a second.
Ronaldo had a penalty saved before Pepe gave them hope with a header and Isco curled home from 20 yards to level.
In a further blow for Real Madrid, they lost Toni Kroos to injury midway through the first half.
The midfielder could now be a doubt for Wednesday's Champions League semi-final second leg against Juventus as the defending European champions bid to overturn a 2-1 deficit.
This round of La Liga games is the last before a suspension of football in Spain starts in an argument over television rights.
If a solution is found and the season can continue, Barca - who beat Real Sociedad 2-0 earlier on Saturday - would only need to win one of their final two games - against champions Atletico Madrid and Deportivo La Coruna.
Real Madrid's likely title failure will be down to the fact they have won only one of their six league games this season against the current top four.
Gareth Bale hit the post with a free-kick and Ronaldo hit the bar with a header before Alcacer stabbed home Jose Luis Gaya's cross from close range after beating Pepe to the ball. Keeper Iker Casillas got a touch but could not keep it out.
Fuego then doubled their lead as he headed home Dani Parejo free-kick's from six yards out.
Javier Hernandez hit the post after a one-two with Bale and on the stroke of half-time, Real had a great chance to pull one back.
Gaya shoved Bale over on the edge of the box but Diego Alves dived the right way to save Ronaldo's penalty and the Portuguese failed to score the rebound in the last kick of the first half.
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti made a double change at half-time, with full-backs Fabio Coentrao and Alvaro Arbeloa coming off for Marcelo and Dani Carvajal.
Real were improved after the break and Hernandez forced a good save before Pepe headed in from Rodriguez's corner.
Valencia keeper Alves, who was magnificent throughout the game, denied Sergio Ramos a leveller with a stunning reaction save from the defender's close-range header.
As Real Madrid pushed for a leveller, Valencia substitute Alvaro Negredo missed two great chances to wrap up the win - blazing over and heading wide in the last 10 minutes.
And the Manchester City loanee was made to pay when Isco fired home with six minutes to go.
LINEUP, BOOKINGS (8) & SUBSTITUTIONS (6)
Real Madrid
- 01 Casillas
- 17 Arbeloa Booked (Carvajal - 45' )
- 03 Pepe Booked
- 04 Ramos Booked
- 05 Fábio Coentrão (Marcelo - 45' )
- 10 Rodríguez
- 08 Kroos (Illarramendi - 25' )
- 23 Isco
- 11 Bale
- 14 Hernández Booked
- 07 Ronaldo
Substitutes
- 12 Marcelo
- 13 Navas
- 15 Carvajal
- 16 Borges
- 18 Nacho
- 20 Jesé
- 24 Illarramendi
Valencia
- 01 Diego Alves
- 19 Barragán
- 05 Mustafi
- 23 Otamendi Booked
- 31 Gayá Peña Booked
- 10 Parejo Booked
- 18 Fuego Martínez
- 21 André Gomes Booked (de Paul - 78' )
- 08 Feghouli
- 09 Alcácer García (Negredo - 69' )
- 11 Piatti (Orban - 90' )
Substitutes
- 02 Cavaco Cancelo
- 03 Vezo
- 06 Orban
- 07 Negredo
- 13 Rodríguez Oterino
- 15 Pérez
- 20 de Paul
Ref: Carlos Clos Gómez
Att: 76,000
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