Barcelona then stormed to a 5-0 win against Sevilla FC. Lionel Messi started it off in the fourth minute and midway through the half set up David Villa to double the lead. Sevilla lost Abdoulay Konko to two bookings just before the interval and in the second half Daniel Alves pounced on a defensive slip for Barcelona's third. Stylish finishes from Messi (64) and Villa (90) put a fitting cap on the scoring. Fourth-placed Valencia are now six points adrift of Madrid after being held 1-1 at home by Real Zaragoza, who moved off the bottom.
Perfect Performance (5-0)
Roger Bogunyà
Barça treated the fans to a fantastic performance at the Nou Camp tonight, hitting five past Seville with two goals apiece from Messi and Villa and one from Alves to chalk up their fifth win on the trot.
This was the best Barça of the season so far as they handed out a footballing master class to Seville, who found themselves one down after just four minutes and going in at one goal and one man down at the break after Konko had seen red on the stroke of half time. With Madrid also winning at Hercules, Barca stay second, a point behind the leaders.
Focus and intensity from the off
It couldn't have been a better start for Barça who came out of the blocks at pace - Xavi had a shot go just past the post within 55 seconds of the kick off -- and Messi had them one up within four minutes. Although Seville tried to get into the game, Barça were keeping possession and getting it back quickly when it was lost as they played with complete focus and intensity from the off.
Villa beauty
Back after his two game absence, Xavi was leading the team with his trademark passing and control, wearing the opposition down with their possession and making a hatful of chances. Villa finished off a lovely move set up by Messi on 24 minutes with a beautiful shot that curled past the keeper to make it two. Seville were now well and truly under the cosh -- a situation not helped by the second yellow Konko picked up on 45 minutes after he was forced to bring down Pedro as he bore down on Varas' goal.
Alves makes it three
Manzano was forced to shuffle his defence at half time, with Dabo and Zokora coming on for Perotti and Luis Fabiano as the Seville boss aimed for damage limitation. Unfortunately for him, ex-Seville man Dani Alves was alert to a poor back pass from Romaric on 52 minutes and whacked the ball past the keeper for a third goal which he refused to celebrate out of respect for his ex-team.
More Messi, more Villa