Barcelona celebrated Pep Guardiola's 100th match at the helm with a 4-0 victory over Racing Santander at the Nou Camp to move provisionally five points clear at the Primera Division summit.
Despite missing several key players through injury and losing Zlatan Ibrahimovic just before the match, Guardiola's team brushed aside a disappointing Racing outfit with ease.
Andres Iniesta gave the Catalans the lead after seven minutes and Thierry Henry, handed a rare start by Guardiola after being frozen out in recent weeks, scored the second goal from a free-kick just before the half-hour.
Rafael Marquez notched the third from another set-piece 11 minutes before half-time and youngster Thiago Alcantara bagged the fourth in the closing stages.
Second-placed Real Madrid have the chance to narrow the gap back to two points tomorrow, when they host Villarreal.
Also tonight, Real Mallorca's perfect home record was brought to an end as Sevilla fought back from an early deficit to win 3-1 in an incident-packed game that also produced three red cards.
Mallorca had won all of their previous 10 league matches at their Ono Estadi and they could hardly have had a better start tonight with Mario Suarez putting them ahead in just the fifth minute.
However, Sevilla deservedly drew level in the 23rd minute through Jesus Navas.
A topsy-turvy game then looked to be favouring Mallorca again when visiting striker Alvaro Negredo was shown a straight red card, but that was evened up before half-time as Mallorca defender Ivan Ramis was sent off for a crunching foul on Didier Zokora.
Sevilla took control in the second half through Ivica Dragutinovic's curling free-kick from near the right touchline and the visitors sealed the win just after the hour through substitute Diego Perotti to put the Andalusian side five points clear of sixth-placed Mallorca.
Sevilla also had Zokora dismissed late on for a second yellow card for comments he made to the linesman.
Two goals in the first seven minutes were enough to give Deportivo La Coruna a first win in four matches in La Liga, 2-1 against bottom side Xerez.
Andres Guardado gave Depor the lead with a third-minute penalty and the hosts looked to be well on their way to an easy victory when Riki added a second four minutes later.
Xerez pulled a goal back seven minutes before the break through Mario Bermejo to ensure a nervy finish but Deportivo held on.
Andres Iniesta gave the Catalans the lead after seven minutes and Thierry Henry, handed a rare start by Guardiola after being frozen out in recent weeks, scored the second goal from a free-kick just before the half-hour.
Rafael Marquez notched the third from another set-piece 11 minutes before half-time and youngster Thiago Alcantara bagged the fourth in the closing stages.
Second-placed Real Madrid have the chance to narrow the gap back to two points tomorrow, when they host Villarreal.
Also tonight, Real Mallorca's perfect home record was brought to an end as Sevilla fought back from an early deficit to win 3-1 in an incident-packed game that also produced three red cards.
Mallorca had won all of their previous 10 league matches at their Ono Estadi and they could hardly have had a better start tonight with Mario Suarez putting them ahead in just the fifth minute.
However, Sevilla deservedly drew level in the 23rd minute through Jesus Navas.
A topsy-turvy game then looked to be favouring Mallorca again when visiting striker Alvaro Negredo was shown a straight red card, but that was evened up before half-time as Mallorca defender Ivan Ramis was sent off for a crunching foul on Didier Zokora.
Sevilla took control in the second half through Ivica Dragutinovic's curling free-kick from near the right touchline and the visitors sealed the win just after the hour through substitute Diego Perotti to put the Andalusian side five points clear of sixth-placed Mallorca.
Sevilla also had Zokora dismissed late on for a second yellow card for comments he made to the linesman.
Two goals in the first seven minutes were enough to give Deportivo La Coruna a first win in four matches in La Liga, 2-1 against bottom side Xerez.
Andres Guardado gave Depor the lead with a third-minute penalty and the hosts looked to be well on their way to an easy victory when Riki added a second four minutes later.
Xerez pulled a goal back seven minutes before the break through Mario Bermejo to ensure a nervy finish but Deportivo held on.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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