Chelsea now have 57 points from 26 matches, two ahead of Arsenal, who host Manchester United on Wednesday.
Arsenal lost top spot in the league after a 5-1 humiliation by a rampant Liverpool at Anfield.
Fulham first stunned Old Trafford in the 19th minute when Steve Sidwell scored to leave seventh-place United facing a ninth loss of its title defense.
Real lost Marcelo to injury before Mario fired Villarreal back into the contest as the home team sat back.
Chelsea are top with 56 points, followed by Arsenal on 55, City with 54 and Liverpool on 50.
The chances of Arsene Wenger’s side ending their nine-year wait for a trophy will be clearer by the end of a gruelling month.
Atletico had beaten Real at the Santiago Bernabeu in last year’s final.
IOC President Thomas Bach has launched a wide review of the organisation as a way to revamp it.
Swansea’s 2-0 defeat at West Ham United on Saturday was their sixth in eight league games.
Chelsea end City’s home run to go level with hosts and just two behind Arsenal.
Simeone’s side go top for the first time in 17 years; Madrid held at Bilbao.
Bayern stretched its record league unbeaten run to 44 games and the win was its 17th from 19 games this season.
The win sets up Arsenal for a challenging period, with Liverpool, United and Bayern coming up in next 4 fixtures.
United, who fielded Van Persie, Rooney and Mata in a mouth-watering forward line, were again undone at the back.
The result left the Catalans with one win from their last four league matches.
Bigger clashes of the weekend are reserved for Sunday and Monday.
Neymar is on track to return to action in between one and two weeks.
City scorched to the top as Chelsea's title ambitions were hit by a 0-0 home draw.
Beat Everton 4-0 in derby; Arsenal drop points in Southampton draw.
The victory over Everton moved Liverpool onto 46 points, six behind leaders Arsenal.
There was no sluggishness about Liverpool, whose 15-year home hoodoo over rivals Everton continued.
The club’s key players, Lionel Messi and Neymar, have become vulnerable to injury and susceptible to legal investigations over their money.
The proposals, set to be ratified at next meeting of the executive committee, include the Asian Cup, which will have 24 teams instead of 16 after the 2015 edition.
Mourinho will take his team to the Etihad, where City have won all 11 home Premier League games this season.
Real Madrid had claimed the overnight lead thanks to Saturday's 2-0 home success against Granada.


