Raphinha has made the most of his return to Barcelona's starting lineup, scoring once and playing a role in two other goals in a 4-0 rout of Getafe.
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Barcelona's biggest win since September moved them past surprise-package Girona and into second place in La Liga.
Raphinha opened the scoring in the 20th minute at Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium before playing a part in the build up to second-half strikes from Joao Felix and Frenkie de Jong.
Substitute Fermin Lopez rounded off the scoring in stoppage time.
Leaders Real Madrid, who host Sevilla on Sunday, are five points clear of Barcelona.
After recent stumbles by Girona - who lie third, a point behind Barcelona with a game in hand - the Catalan giants find themselves, at least temporarily, re-installed as Madrid's closest challengers with a third of the season remaining.
Raphinha, a key part of Barcelona's costly rebuild two summers ago, was injured earlier this season and lost his spot in the starting 11 when teenager Lamine Yamal broke out as the team's next great hope.
"I am especially happy because I was having fewer minutes since coming back from injury, but the most important thing is the win that keeps us alive in the league," Raphinha said.
"It is a privilege to compete with Lamine ... watching him play so well makes me play better. And I am sure that he feels the same way."
Getafe coach Jose Bordalas was frustrated by his 10th-placed team's heaviest defeat of the season.
"We insisted on playing with a high back line, but we didn't execute well at any point," he said.
"We even tried moving players into different positions to try to improve, but my team was never itself and never comfortable.
"We have to forget this game and just move on."
Luka Romero scored his first goals since joining Almeria on loan from AC Milan last month to help hold Atletico Madrid to a 2-2 draw.
The result left Atletico in fourth place, three points ahead of Athletic Bilbao.
Matija Nastasic's 88th-minute equaliser gave Mallorca a 1-1 draw at Alaves.
Valencia's game at Granada was postponed after the visiting team requested not to play in the aftermath of a deadly fire in their home city on Thursday.
Australian Associated Press
