All the Real conversation on Sunday evening was about Cristiano Ronaldo's new deal, which keeps him at the Bernabeu until 2021.
But it was another superstar who recently committed his future to Los Blancos, Gareth Bale, who put them on the path to a 3-0 victory against Leganes.
First the Welshman latched onto Isco's pass and, with the aid of a lucky ricochet took the ball past Jon Ander Serantes and slotted into the empty net, before pouncing to stab in a second from close range just before half-time.
Alvaro Morata added a third in the 76th minute to secure Real's fourth straight win and leave Leganes just outside the bottom three.
Barcelona looked set to lose ground on their bitter rivals when Vitolo deservedly put Sevilla ahead at the Estadio Sanchez Pizjuan after some poor defensive play from Sergi Roberto, but they hit back just before half-time through Messi.
The Argentinian side-footed past Sergio Rico from the edge of the area though there was a suspicion of offside against Ivan Rakitic, and he laid on Luis Suarez's 61st-minute winner.
Villarreal are up to third after a 2-0 victory at home to Real Betis.
The Yellow Submarine have taken 13 points from a possible 15 at El Madrigal and were on top after a wonder strike from Manu Trigueros after 21 minutes, with Roberto Soriano adding another from long range in the 52nd minute.
Celta Vigo moved up to eighth with a 2-1 home victory over Valencia.
Dani Parejo put the visitors in front from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute but Facundo Roncaglia levelled just before the break and John Guidetti headed in the winner with 14 minutes remaining.
The result leaves Valencia just one point outside the relegation zone and new coach Cesare Prandelli with plenty to think about over the international break.
The day's other match between Espanyol and Athletic Bilbao finished goalless.
On Saturday, Atletico Madrid lost ground in LaLiga's title race as two second-half penalties from Real Sociedad condemned them to a 2-0 defeat at the Estadio Anoeta.
Diego Simeone's men had the chance to go above Real Madrid and Barcelona, if only for the evening, but failed to seize it as Sociedad secured a third straight win and moved level on points with fifth-placed Villarreal.
Kevin Gameiro clipped a shot against a post from a lightning counter-attack in the 28th minute, but Sociedad were more than a match for Atleti and took the lead when Carlos Vela calmly placed a penalty past Jan Oblak after Gabi had fouled Yuri in the box.
Willian Jose fired in a second spot-kick with 15 minutes left after Vela twisted and turned his way into the box, as Simeone's men suffered a second LaLiga defeat in their last three matches.
A penalty also proved the difference in Gran Canaria where Jonathan Viera's spot-kick deep into stoppage time earned Las Palmas a 1-0 win over Eibar and moved the islanders up from 11th to seventh.
Christian Santos converted a second half penalty as Alaves edged past relegation strugglers 1-0 Osasuna at El Sadar.
The Venezuelan striker had yet to open his Primera Division account when he stepped up in the 77th minute - but he beat Nauzet Perez from the spot to seal the points.
For Osasuna it was another disappointing result that leaves them second bottom in the table with just seven points, while the visitors successfully moved on from successive defeats against Real Sociedad and Real Madrid.
Granada earned a 1-1 draw against Deportivo thanks to an 81st-minute goal from David Lomban. Florin Andone had put the visitors ahead 20 minutes into the second half.
Substitute Michael Santos headed a late winner as Malaga twice came from behind to sink 10-man Sporting Gijon at the Estadio La Rosaleda on Friday.
Santos powered the winner past keeper Pichu Cuellar just seven minutes after Gijon defender Lillo had been sent off for a second bookable offence.
Seeking their first win in eight LaLiga games, the visitors made a bright start when Borja Viguera fired home to give them a 13th-minute lead.
Gonzalo Castro and Sandro Ramirez both came close to an equaliser but Duje Cop also missed a fine chance to increase the visitors' lead.
And Gijon were left to rue their missed opportunity when Pablo Fornals drew the home side level in first-half added time.
But Cop made amends four minutes into the second period when he put his side back in front from a set-piece.
Sandro Ramirez made it 2-2 in the 65th minute when he headed home from a corner and, as the pressure mounted on Gijon, they were reduced to 10 men after a second bad foul from Lillo.
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