Barca continues its rampant run

David Villa scored the only goal of the first half before Lionel Messi gave Barca a clear advantage three minutes after the break.

That was how it stayed until the final 10 minutes when the floodgates suddenly opened as Xavi and Cesc Fabregas found the target before Messi grabbed his second a minute from the end.

The late goal rush put the focus squarely back on closest challenger Atletico Madrid, who will attempt to draw level with Barca again on Monday (AEDT) when it hosts bottom-placed Osasuna.

Real Betis moved up to fourth with a 1-0 home win over Valencia.

Salva Sevilla scored his first goal of the season on nine minutes after Juan Carlos' cross was not properly cleared by Adil Rami.

Adrian ensured the win, and his third consecutive clean sheet since taking over as the first-choice goalkeeper, when he kept out Roberto Soldado's late effort with his legs.

Celta Vigo claimed a 1-1 draw in its Galician derby with Deportivo La Coruna despite playing with 10 men for 40 minutes.

Mario Bermejo gave Celta an eighth-minute lead only for Juan Dominguez to equalise 21 minutes later.

Celta then had Gustavo Cabral dismissed for a second caution on 52 minutes but the visitor failed to make the extra man count.

Third-placed Malaga failed to close on the leaders as it was held to a goalless draw against struggling Espanyol at the Cornella El-Prat.