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Real Madrid reduced the gap at the top of the Primera Division to eight points ahead of next week's El Clasico as Cristiano Ronaldo's hat trick led the Blancos to a 5-1 win over Deportivo La Coruna.
Riki had given the visitors a shock lead on 15 minutes but Real were level seven minutes later when Ronaldo scored from the penalty spot after Manuel Pablo had brought down Angel Di Maria.
And the hosts were in cruise control by halftime as Di Maria and Ronaldo nodded in from close range just before the break.
Pepe headed in the fourth 25 minutes from time following Xabi Alonso's free-kick, before Ronaldo completed his hat trick with another penalty after Evaldo had been harshly adjudged to have handled Kaka's cross.
"We started without a lot of energy, but we woke up after the 1-0," said Ronaldo. "It was an important win because we knew we couldn't drop any more points.
"We know how Barcelona plays. We will have to go in focused and confident that we can play a good game and get the win."
Ronaldo's 17th career hat trick lifted him even with Barcelona's Lionel Messi with six goals each through six rounds. Both trail Atletico Madrid striker Radamel Falcao by one goal.
Also on Sunday, two goals in the opening 20 minutes were enough to hand Granada its first win as its withstood a second-half onslaught from Celta Vigo to win at Nuevo Los Carmenes.
Guilherme Siqueira had given the home side the lead from the penalty spot after 11 minutes and the Brazilian left back then brilliantly set up Gabriel Torje to double the advantage moments later.
Iago Aspas quickly reduced the arrears for Celta and the hosts were thankful to goalkeeper Tono as he made a number of fine saves after the break, most notably to deny Park Chu-young an equalizer two minutes from time.
Four second-half goals -- three in the last eight minutes -- saw Osasuna wrap up its first win of the season as it dispatched a poor Levante side.
Emiliano Armenteros opened the scoring 10 minutes after the break before Roland Lamah (82), a David Timor penalty a minute from time and Nino's injury-time strike wrapped up a resounding victory of which there had been little indication after a poor first half. Until now, Madrid had been unable to reproduce the same attacking verve that had led it to convincing victories over Manchester City in the Champions League and Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup.
But after shaking off Deportivo's early goal, it quickly took care of business at Santiago Bernabeu stadium on a night it could ill afford another slip up.
Mourinho rested regular starters Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa with Madrid set to visit Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday, shifting Sergio Ramos over to take Arbeloa's place on the right side of the defense.
The Portuguese manager also loaded his attack with creative midfielders Mesut Oezil and Luka Modric playing together for the first time.
Early on, Madrid showed some of the same uninspired play that has dogged it since the beginning of the domestic campaign, and Deportivo had little trouble fending off its timid early incursions before striking first. Riki picked up a short pass, deftly dribbled by Raphael Varane, and slipped a shot past onrushing goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
A foul by Deportivo defender Manuel Pablo Garcia on Di Maria just inside the area gave Madrid the chance to draw even, and Ronaldo coolly slotted the spot kick into the right corner.
With the score even, Madrid pressed forward with Di Maria tormenting the visitors' left flank. Modric soon slipped a perfect pass between three opponents for the Argentina forward to score in the 39th, heading in his own rebound after goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia deflecting his initial shot off the post.
Ronaldo made it 3-1 five minutes later when Aranzubia blocked Ramos' strike, only for the ball to sail behind him and fall to Ronaldo, who easily headed it into the net.
Kaka, who is trying to work his way back into Mourinho's good graces after failing to secure a transfer this summer, made a rare appearance coming on at the start of the second half for Oezil. Alonso soon joined him, replacing Modric.
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