The midfielder set up the opening goal for Alexis Sanchez after just six minutes, and scored himself in the 90th minute of a match Barca controlled from start to finish.

"We had a magician wearing orange boots and the number eight, handing out the ball," Barca sporting director Zubizarreta told Canal Plus.

The win moves Barca 16 points clear of arch-rivals Real Madrid.

Zubizarreta added that he had never spoken with Sandro Rosell about the prospect of signing one of their fierce rivals' players, following the president's revelation that he was admirer of one of Jose Mourinho's players.

"I speak very little with him (Rosell) about players, and never about Real Madrid players. Only when we play against them. They have a great squad," he said.

The former Barca goalkeeper then revealed he will paying a visit to Tito Vilanova as the head coach continues his recovery from a cancer relapse.

"I'm going to see him (Tito) in person and we will talk about football, as we usually do when we are together, and so I can touch him and see him," he said.

"We all also discuss the future."