Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said his team's hard-fought win at Celta Vigo on Sunday evening, which retained their four-point lead in the La Liga standings, would strengthen them for the remainder of the campaign.
After Real Madrid had cut the gap at the top of the table with their Cristiano Ronaldo-powered 9-1 hammering of Granada earlier in the day, Barca suffered for long periods of the game against a high-energy Celta side. But Jeremy Mathieu's headed goal with just 16 minutes remaining ensured the Catalans kept their advantage atop the table with just nine games now to play.
The blaugrana coach told his postmatch news conference that having eked out the three points against a difficult opponent was "marvellous".
"We were up against a team which were flying, that is why we could not control the game," Luis Enrique said. "These games strengthen you, there are games in which you have to work for it. These games against very tough opponents will prepare us for what is left to play. Winning is never bad, these are three marvellous points."
Barca were lucky to get the break at 0-0, but had the better of the game after the break with Neymar having a goal ruled out for a borderline offside with the game scoreless, and Lionel Messi missing a one-on-one at 1-0.
Even still his side having ended up defending in their own area in the 94th minute, and Luis Enrique said he had known coming to his old club was going to be difficult.
"We could have finished the game earlier, but the game was open all the way through," he said. "We did not give up many chances, but neither did we create lots. It is in these games that the quality of the players is determinant. The effort they put in during the first half took a toll in the second. We had more control of the game then, but I knew it would be a difficult game, as Celta are one of best teams pressing the ball."
Substitute Xavi Hernandez's entrance on the hour mark appeared to tilt the balance Barca's way, with the 35-year-old midfielder helping his team have more of the ball against a tiring Celta team, and then providing the precision set-piece which Mathieu headed in to win the game.
Asked about speculation that the veteran playmaker had already agreed to join Qatari side Al-Sadd for next season, Luis Enrique said his former teammate had earned the right to decide his own future.
"I have already said everything about Xavi," he said. "He is the player with most games ever for Barca and will decide his own future when it is best for him. People said he was going to leave last summer too. I can just say that he looks very focused on this end of the season, trying to win as many trophies as possible."
Celta's Fabian Orellana was sent off late on for hurling some turf at Sergio Busquets, after the Barca midfielder took an age to take a free kick. Busquets was also booked in the incident, meaning he will miss Wednesday's home game against struggling Almeria, and then be free for the tougher looking trip to Sevilla next weekend.
"We never ask our players to force a yellow card," said Luis Enrique when asked if he had requested his player to deliberately get booked and miss the easier on paper game.