Barcelona set a new record of 16 successive wins after Lionel Messi inspired victory over Atletico Madrid.
Spanish giants maintain storming run over Atletico
Barcelona set a new La Liga record of 16 successive wins after Lionel Messi inspired them to a 3-0 win over
Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou.
Messi sent Barcelona on their way with a fine solo opener on 17 minutes and he doubled the lead on 28 minutes with a close-range finish.
The Argentine ace completed his hat-trick and netted his 40th goal of the campaign 11 minutes from time when he followed up to score after David De Gea kept out David Villa's shot.
The win moves Barcelona ten points clear of Real Madrid at the top of the table with Jose Mourinho's men facing Real Sociedad on Sunday.
Villarreal missed the chance to close the gap on second-placed Real Madrid after losing 1-0 to struggling
Levante at El Madrigal.
Valdo scored the only goal of the game three minutes after the break to boost Levante's survival hopes.
Athletic Bilbao moved into fifth place in La Liga with an impressive 3-0 victory over 10-man
Sporting Gijon.
Gijon were reduced to ten men when Gregory Arnolin was sent off after conceding a penalty and David Lopez converted the resulting penalty.
Gaizka Toquero doubled the lead on 27 minutes and top scorer Fernando Llorente added a third 16 minutes from time.
Espanyol dropped down to sixth after going down 3-2 to struggling
Almeria.
The home side raced into a 3-0 lead thanks to goal from Marcelo Silva (5), Kalu Uche (7) and Hernan Bernadello (18) inside the opening 20 minutes.
Joan Verdu reduced the arrears on 34 minutes and Alvaro Vazquez pulled another goal back four minutes after the break, but Almeria held on for all three points.
Deportivo La Coruna continue to struggle at the wrong end of the table after going down 4-1 to
Getafe.
Adrian Colunga put the home side in firm control with a quick-fire double (19,26) and Miku made it 3-0 right on the stroke of half-time.
Pedro Rios added a fourth on 57 minutes rendering Riki's 68th minute penalty a mere consolation for Depor.
Struggling duo
Real Zaragoza and
Racing Santander shared the spoils after a 1-1 draw at La Romareda.
Christian gave Santander the lead on 14 minutes, but Said Boutahar ensured a share of the points with a 40th minute leveller.
Osasuna picked up a precious point after a 1-1 draw with Real
Mallorca.
Miguel Flano gave Osasuna the lead after just eight minutes, but Gonzalo Castro drew Mallorca level on 37 minutes to end a run of three straight defeats.
