Barca crushes hapless Vallecano

Real Madrid stayed on course for its first Primera Division title in four years as it cantered to a 3-0 win over Sevilla earlier in the day.

Madrid is still seven points clear of its arch rival with three games remaining.

Madrid will officially be crowned Spanish champion for the 32nd time if it defeats Athletic Bilbao in Thursday's (AEST) 36th round of fixtures, regardless of the result of Barca's game against Malaga.

Barcelona took its frustrations out on poor Rayo after a dismal week that began with a damaging loss to Madrid, saw them exit the UEFA Champions League against Chelsea and then receive the shock news that coach Pep Guardiola would stand down at the end of the season.

Lionel Messi started and finished the scoring for the wounded Catalans, with Barca's other goals coming from a Pedro Rodriguez brace, Seydou Keita, Thiago and a Robert own goal.

Malaga moved level with Valencia in third as Nacho Camacho's first-half header secured a 1-0 win at La Rosaleda.

Camacho netted the only goal with a towering header from Jesus Gamez's cross just before the half-hour mark.

Things got even worse for Valencia when Sofiane Feghouli was dismissed for a second bookable offence just after the hour.

Radamel Falcao struck a stoppage-time equaliser to salvage a point for Atletico Madrid in a 2-2 draw at Real Betis.

Atletico took a 63rd-minute lead through substitute Jorge Koke but Betis looked to have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when its own replacements Alejandro Pozuelo (86) and Jonathan Pereira (88) netted in quick succession to put the host team 2-1 up.

However, there was to be another late twist in the tale when, from a corner four minutes into injury time, Falcao headed home from close range to level the game up.

In the day's other game, Real Zaragoza kept alive its chances of survival with a deserved 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao thanks to goals in either half from Edu Oriol and Apono.