Record-breaking Barcelona opened up a seven-point lead atop the Spanish Liga with a 3-0 win on Saturday at Hercules.
In-form winger Pedro gave Barca the lead, and FIFA World Player Lionel Messi polished off Hercules with two late goals.
It was Barca's 15th straight league win, a new Spanish record, and leaves them with an astonishing 58 points from 21 games. Second-place Real Madrid, currently on 51, are at lowly Osasuna on Sunday.
As usual, Barca enjoyed almost 70-per-cent possession but failed - just for a change - to create an abundance of clear chances. They did not look really comfortable on Hercules' narrow pitch until Messi put away his late goals.
Barca were determined to take revenge on the only team that has beaten them this season in La Liga. Pedro gave them the lead two minutes before half-time with a clever near-post drive, after having been set up perfectly by veteran playmaker Xavi.
The one-way traffic continued into the second half, but Barca did not put away the killer second goal until just three minutes from time. Messi, for whom nothing had gone right until then, received the ball on the edge of the penalty area, worked the ball onto his magical left foot - and made it 2-0 with an unstoppable drive.
Two minutes later, the impish Argentine completed the rout by turning in a Dani Alves centre from close range.
Messi now has 21 league goals to his name, just one less than top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo of Real.
Earlier Saturday, there were important wins for struggling sides Sporting Gijon, Zaragoza and Levante.
Resurgent Gijon turned in their best performance of the season to win 4-0 at mid-table Mallorca. Diego Castro scored twice for the visitors, and youngster Nacho Cases and veteran Nacho Novo grabbed the other goals.
The Gijon directors must now be pleased not to have sacked coach Manuel Preciado three weeks ago, when everything was going wrong for the Asturians. They have since moved up to 12th.
Zaragoza, meanwhile, came from behind to snatch a late 2-1 win at new-look Malaga, who bought six new players in January.
Malaga took an early lead through Portugal midfielder Duda. But Argentine midfielder Nicolas Bertolo levelled for Zaragoza before half-time, and Florent Sinama-Pongolle hit the winner for the visitors with just three minutes left.
The last-gasp win takes Zaragoza up to seventh from bottom, well above the danger zone for the first time all season.
Levante moved off the bottom of the table with a 2-0 home defeat of Getafe, with goals at the start of the second half from Valdo and Felipe Caicedo. Xisco was sent off for Levante and Manu del Moral for Getafe.
Saturday's other early game was a 2-0 home win for attractive Real Sociedad against lowly Almeria, courtesy of goals from defender Jon Ansotegi and former Spain striker Raul Tamudo.
Malaga and Almeria are the new bottom teams, with just 17 points each. Then come Levante and Osasuna on 18, Santander on 20 and Deportivo Coruna on 21.
Saturday's late game will bring together Deportivo Coruna and Sevilla.
In-form winger Pedro gave Barca the lead, and FIFA World Player Lionel Messi polished off Hercules with two late goals.
It was Barca's 15th straight league win, a new Spanish record, and leaves them with an astonishing 58 points from 21 games. Second-place Real Madrid, currently on 51, are at lowly Osasuna on Sunday.
As usual, Barca enjoyed almost 70-per-cent possession but failed - just for a change - to create an abundance of clear chances. They did not look really comfortable on Hercules' narrow pitch until Messi put away his late goals.
Barca were determined to take revenge on the only team that has beaten them this season in La Liga. Pedro gave them the lead two minutes before half-time with a clever near-post drive, after having been set up perfectly by veteran playmaker Xavi.
The one-way traffic continued into the second half, but Barca did not put away the killer second goal until just three minutes from time. Messi, for whom nothing had gone right until then, received the ball on the edge of the penalty area, worked the ball onto his magical left foot - and made it 2-0 with an unstoppable drive.
Two minutes later, the impish Argentine completed the rout by turning in a Dani Alves centre from close range.
Messi now has 21 league goals to his name, just one less than top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo of Real.
Earlier Saturday, there were important wins for struggling sides Sporting Gijon, Zaragoza and Levante.
Resurgent Gijon turned in their best performance of the season to win 4-0 at mid-table Mallorca. Diego Castro scored twice for the visitors, and youngster Nacho Cases and veteran Nacho Novo grabbed the other goals.
The Gijon directors must now be pleased not to have sacked coach Manuel Preciado three weeks ago, when everything was going wrong for the Asturians. They have since moved up to 12th.
Zaragoza, meanwhile, came from behind to snatch a late 2-1 win at new-look Malaga, who bought six new players in January.
Malaga took an early lead through Portugal midfielder Duda. But Argentine midfielder Nicolas Bertolo levelled for Zaragoza before half-time, and Florent Sinama-Pongolle hit the winner for the visitors with just three minutes left.
The last-gasp win takes Zaragoza up to seventh from bottom, well above the danger zone for the first time all season.
Levante moved off the bottom of the table with a 2-0 home defeat of Getafe, with goals at the start of the second half from Valdo and Felipe Caicedo. Xisco was sent off for Levante and Manu del Moral for Getafe.
Saturday's other early game was a 2-0 home win for attractive Real Sociedad against lowly Almeria, courtesy of goals from defender Jon Ansotegi and former Spain striker Raul Tamudo.
Malaga and Almeria are the new bottom teams, with just 17 points each. Then come Levante and Osasuna on 18, Santander on 20 and Deportivo Coruna on 21.
Saturday's late game will bring together Deportivo Coruna and Sevilla.
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