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Second half goals from Eder Militao and Casemiro gave Real Madrid a 2-0 victory over Osasuna at the Estadio Alfredo di Stefano in La Liga.
Eden Hazard was handed a first start since the 2-1 loss to Levante at the end of January, while Antonio Blanco made his second start for his boyhood club.
A positive start to the game saw Real Madrid go close through Karim Benzema, Hazard and Militao but Osasuna goalkeeper Sergio Herrera was up to the task with everything thrown at him.
The visitors put the ball in the back of the net on the stroke of halftime but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Real Madrid struggled to raise their tempo and lacked the requisite precision in the second half with a resolute Osasuna defense keeping them at bay.
Zidane rang the changes just past the hour mark, with Rodrygo, Miguel Gutierrez and Isco all coming on.
Rodrygo shot narrowly wide shortly after his introduction before Real Madrid scored the opener in the 76th minute.
A contentious corner kick was awarded to Los Blancos, from which Militao rose highest to head home from Isco's delivery.
Their lead was doubled just four minutes later. Karim Benzema picked up the ball at the halfway line and dribbled across the Osasuna defense before laying the ball on for Casemiro.
The Brazil international miscontrolled the pass but that allowed him to side-step Herrera and the ball trickled into the back of the Osasuna net.
Real Madrid had a golden opportunity for a third goal but Isco somehow shot wide from six yards.
The win sees Los Blancos close the gap on city rivals Atletico Madrid back to two points and would give them a much-needed boost ahead of their marquee clash with Chelsea on Wednesday.
Here are five talking points from the game.
#5 Real Madrid keep title hopes alive
Atletico Madrid hung on for dear life in their 1-0 victory over Elche, which temporarily took them five points clear at the top.
Real Madrid came into this game knowing that anything other than a win would have jeopardized their quest to retain the league title.
Having played out a tepid goalless draw with Real Betis last time out, the defending champions looked on their way to another stalemate but a late surge saw them pick up all three points.
Real Madrid were far from their best against Osasuna and struggled to create chances for most of the game.
However, Zidane's men have constantly shown an ability to get the job done despite not playing at an optimum and that proved to be the case once again.
The victory takes Real Madrid to within two points of Atletico. With the table-toppers set to clash with Barcelona next week, one or both of Real Madrid's title rivals are bound to drop points, leaving a window of opportunity for the defending champions.
In light of this, the hard-fought victory against Osasuna did Real Madrid's title hopes a world of good.
#4 Mixed performance from Eden Hazard
It is no secret that Eden Hazard's transfer to Real Madrid has not been the hit that many predicted.
Almost two years on from his nine-figure arrival, the Belgium international has yet to make a genuine mark, with injuries largely taking a toll on his displays.
The former Chelsea man made his first start for Los Blancos in almost three months and was bright in the early periods of the game, combining well with Benzema and showing his technique on occasion.
He had a pristine opportunity to open the scoring midway through the first half but his scoffed shot saw Herrera tip over the bar. The 30-year-old should unarguably have done better and a pristine Hazard would undoubtedly have buried the ball in the back of the net from such close range.
The second half was a more subdued affair for him, as he struggled to make any sort of impact or penetration and was also let down by poor touches in the final third.
It came as no surprise to see Hazard substituted in the 64th minute but with a marquee return fixture against his former side coming up, the stage is perfect for Hazard to showcase why Real Madrid broke the bank to sign him.
#3 Inspired substitutions from Zinedine Zidane
Real Madrid looked lost and pedestrian for the opening 20 minutes of the second half and the game was crying out for fresh introductions from the bench.
Zinedine Zidane duly obliged, and his substitutions proved to be a masterstroke which played a key role in deciding the outcome of the game.
Rodrygo brought an instant injection of pace into the attack, while Isco's creativity through the middle helped penetrate the Osasuna defense.
The Spain international provided the pristine delivery from which Militao put Real Madrid ahead, while Rodrygo also went close soon after his introduction.
The two men combined brilliantly in the dying stages of the game but Isco inexplicably shot wide after setting himself up brilliantly.
While Zinedine Zidane's tactical nous might not be as widely recognized as it should be, he once again highlighted his pedigree to help Real Madrid to a crucial victory.
#2 Eder Militao continues his impressive display for Real Madrid
Sergio Ramos' injury robbed Real Madrid off leadership and steel in defense but Eder Militao has stepped up impressively in his absence.
The 23-year-old has not exactly had the best of times since his arrival in the Spanish capital but Ramos' injury has afforded him increased playing time at the heart of defense.
The Brazil international made his ninth consecutive start for Real Madrid and put in a real shift at both ends of the field.
His defensive contributions helped Real Madrid keep a clean sheet, while he also stepped up at the other end to score the decisive opening goal.
With Sergio Ramos' future at the Bernabeu currently in doubt, Eder Militao is showing that he could be a long-term option at the heart of defense.
#1 What is the severity of Raphael Varane's injury?
Raphael Varane started the game with Eder Militao but failed to return to the field for the second half, with Nacho taking his place.
News filtered out that the France international had suffered an injury in the first half, which saw him substituted.
This is far from ideal for Los Blancos, as they are currently suffering from an injury crisis in defense, with Dani Carvajal, Sergio Ramos and Ferland Mendy all sidelined.
The severity of Varane's injury is unknown but with the game against Chelsea coming up in three days, fans of Real Madrid will be hoping that the World Cup winner can return to full fitness in time.
