Real Madrid remain four points behind Barcelona in La Liga after scraping through against Mallorca 1-0 on Sunday evening, Benzema getting the only goal of the match after about an hour.
Villarreal had to come from behind to beat Real Sociedad 2-1 and remain in third place, albeit nine points behind Real Madrid and thirteen adrift of the leaders.
Araburu gave Real Sociedad the lead after thirty minutes, but two goals from Rossi, one in each half, were enough to give the visitors the three points.
After completion of the Sunday games, Málaga drop down to second from bottom.