Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has admitted that his side will need to "suffer" until the end of the season if they are to win the title.
Los Blancos climbed to the top of La Liga courtesy of a late 2-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao last time out, with Alvaro Morata grabbing an 83rd-minute winner.
Zidane hailed the display as a "complete performance", but is under no illusions of the challenge that faces his side as they go in search of a first league title since 2012.
"The players kept going until the end. With patience and cool heads, we got the three points," he told reporters.
"We're very happy to be leaders, but above all I'm happy with how we played. It was a complete performance. We suffered a bit, but that is normal in football.
"It will be like this all season. There are no easy games, and we will suffer until the end."
Madrid will now turn their attention to Spanish minnows Cultural Leonesa in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.
