Danny Welbeck, making his first appearance of the season as a late substitute, headed a stoppage-time winner to give Arsenal a 2-1 home win over league leaders Leicester City in the Premier League on Sunday.
But title rivals Chelsea and Manchester United were held in Saturday's Premiership matches.
German international Ilkay Gundogan scored twice and was at the heart of City's hugely impressive display as Pep Guardiola's side delivered the kind of football that took them to title wins in 2018 and 2019.
Burnley's seemingly doomed attempt to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
Former Real youth player Joselu pulled a goal back for Alaves in the 59th minute, powering in a header from a free kick, but Benzema rounded off the victory for second-placed Real with an exquisite solo run and goal in the 70th minute.
Arsene Wenger gets another chance to finally beat his old nemesis and keep the Premier League title race alive for a little longer when Arsenal host leaders Chelsea on Sunday.
Aston Villa will meet holders Arsenal in the FA Cup final next month.
The Manchester United midfielders have knee injuries and will miss Champions League matches against Basel and Deportivo Coruna.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
With no European prizes left to chase this season, England's top clubs are focussed on winning the Premier League title, although that goal looks beyond all but Chelsea.
Christian Benteke wants to stay at Liverpool but is reluctant to commit his future to the Anfield club unless he gets more game time under manager Juergen Klopp. The former Aston Villa striker scored nine league goals during a mixed first season at the Merseyside club but made 15 of his 29 Premier League appearances from the bench. Benteke was signed by Klopp's predecessor, Brendan Rodgers, for 32.5 million pounds ($47.00 million) and under the German found himself behind Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi and Roberto Firmino in the pecking order.
Diego Costa continued his rich vein of form as he helped leaders Chelsea to a 3-0 win over Aston Villa while Louis van Gaal enjoyed only his second Premier League win as Manchester United manager following a 2-1 victory against West Ham.
Champions Arsenal eased to a comfortable 2-0 home win over Middlesbrough on Saturday, extending their lead at the top of the English premier league to two points.
The former beat Leeds United 4-1 while Manchester United got the better of Aston Villa 2-1 in the third round of the FA Cup.
Images from Saturday's action in the Premier League.
Irish striker Robbie Keane scored the winner as Tottenham Hotspur recovered from a goal down with 12 minutes left to beat Aston Villa 2-1.
The points table of the English Premier League 2015-16 season.
Wayne Rooney scored two first half goals to help send Manchester United to a 4-1 win over a spirited Aston Villa on Saturday, temporarily lifting the gloom surrounding David Moyes' dismal first term in charge.
Images from the English Premier League matches played on Saturday.
Robin van Persie will play no part in Manchester United's busy holiday programme after being ruled out for a month with a thigh injury, manager David Moyes said on Friday.
Everton yet to receive clarification after City game postponed: Ancelotti
The England captain scored the only goal beat Aston Villa 1-0 in the English premiership.
'I am talking about people outside of here. I think it is pretty clear. Sometimes we haven't lost games and the hysteria around it is pretty clear. There is maybe something else going on from behind' 'We wanted to win for the manager'
England's young forwards must consider leaving major clubs to play more regularly in their preferred positions and boost their chances of breaking into the national team, former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright has said.
Rediff.com brings a preview of the main matches coming up this weekend in the English Premier League.
The walkout by home fans in the 77th minute over rising ticket prices is no excuse for Liverpool's 2-2 Premier League draw with Sunderland on Saturday, captain Jordan Henderson has said.
Jose Mourinho's side had paid lavish sums to bolster key areas by this time last year but, having claimed the title at a canter, the motto of this transfer window seems to be: if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
Responding to an initiative already run by fans of both clubs, City and United will donate 50,000 pounds each to the Trussell Trust, a support network of more than 1,200 food banks.
Raheem Sterling scored a second-half hat-trick as leaders Manchester City beat Watford 3-1 on Saturday while Liverpool kept the gap at one point by overcoming Burnley 4-2 on Sunday.
Harry Kane was hailed as 'unbelievable' after the England striker's 21st and 22nd goals of the season inspired Tottenham Hotspur to a routine win at hapless Aston Villa on Sunday that boosted their Premier League title ambitions.
As Jose Mourinho returns to his Portuguese footballing roots, the Chelsea manager may have to decide which back-up marksman he trusts most to shoot down his old employers at Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The United fans, who celebrated the victory at the end of the game with the manager and players, have not been the source of criticism of Solskjaer -- indeed the Norwegian has enjoyed strong backing from supporters who attend games at Old Trafford and those who travel away.
Queens Park Rangers striker Eduardo Vargas will be out of action for six weeks due to a knee ligament injury, the player's agent said on Monday.
Manchester City and Everton players took to the field wearing Ukrainian flags before their Premier League game on Saturday while there were anti-war messages at stadiums elsewhere following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
European champions Liverpool are second in their Champions League group - a point behind Napoli - and Klopp's side host Genk at Anfield.
Bradford City produced another giant-killing to reach the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
