Messi hat-trick hero in the demolition
Lionel Messi inspired Barcelona to a 5-0 win at Tenerife on Sunday night as the Catalan giants ended the weekend as they started it; holding a two-point lead at the top of the Primera Division.
Real Madrid briefly led the way after beating Real Mallorca 2-0 earlier in the evening but Barca swept back to the summit after brushing aside Tenerife in the Canary Islands.
Messi's contribution was a wonderful hat-trick - the third goal an impudent chip from the edge of the area.
Carles Puyol also got on the scoresheet with home defender Ezequiel Luna adding a late fifth with an unfortunate prod past his own goalkeeper.
Madrid had greater difficulty with the snow in the capital than they did with a toothless Mallorca side.
But despite the wintry conditions, Manuel Pellegrini's men strolled to victory with goals from Gonzalo Higuain - a sublime 25-yard curling effort - and Esteban Granero.
Valencia strengthened their hold on third position with a comfortable 3-1 win at rock-bottom Xerez on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts, who have now accumulated just seven points from 17 games, threatened a surprise when Carlos Calvo cancelled out Juan Mata's opener.
But Valencia upped their game to outplay their valiant, if limited, opponents.
David Silva restored their lead and a fine solo effort from Carlos Marchena settled matters.
Deportivo La Coruna gave their Champions League aspirations a boost as they moved back into the top four with a narrow 1-0 victory at home to 10-man Osasuna.
Juan Rodriguez eventually gave Miguel Angel Lotina's men the lead four minutes after the break, but Deportivo were unable to extend their lead, even after Osasuna had Javad Nekounam sent off halfway through the second period for bringing down Andres Guardado.
Sporting Gijon ended a dismal recent run with a narrow 1-0 defeat of Getafe.
Diego Castro put Sporting Gijon in front after 39 minutes and the strike proved to be the winner.
Getafe's Daniel Cata Diaz hit the post with a header after 57 minutes but it was the closest the visitors came as they suffered just a second loss in their last seven league games.
Espanyol returned to winning ways thanks to a hard-fought 2-1 win at home to struggling Real Zaragoza in the Primera Division on Sunday evening.
The win sees the Barcelona-based side move five points clear of the relegation zone after 17 rounds.
Espanyol took the lead through Joan Verdu after 13 minutes, but were pegged back by Javier Arizmendi's leveller shortly before the break.
However, Mauricio Pochettino's side looked the most likely and Fernando Marques grabbed the winner from close-range with just under 20 minutes remaining.
Malaga stretched their unbeaten run to 10 matches in all competitions but remain in the relegation zone after a 1-1 draw against Athletic Bilbao.
La Rosaleda have not been defeated since the start of November but a failure to close out victories means they are still battling the drop.
Fernando Llorente was responsible for earning Bilbao a share of the spoils, earning and scoring a late penalty after Weligton's opening goal at the start of the second half.
On Saturday evening Atletico Madrid produced the perfect reaction to their humiliating midweek cup defeat with an impressive 4-0 victory at Valladolid.
Atletico went down 3-0 at Second Division Recreativo Huelva in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night and have been hugely criticised for that result, despite playing most of the match with 10 men.
Coach Quique Sanchez Flores was furious with his team and said he will look for a new group of players that will not let him down.
But there was no time to change too much before this match, just three days later.
Atletico looked a completely different side, though, and took control of the match within half an hour, thanks to goals from Jose Manuel Jurado and Diego Forlan, before Jose Antonio Reyes wrapped up a fine win with a third 13 minutes into the second half and substitute Sergio Aguero added a fourth at the death.
Sevilla slipped up at home for the fourth time in a row in the Primera Liga as Manolo Jimenez's men fell to an embarrassing 2-1 defeat to Racing Santander.
Young striker Sergio Canales was the hero for a revitalised Racing, hitting both goals as the Cantabrians secured a fourth win in five games under new coach Miguel Angel Portugal.
But it was another disappointment for Sevilla, who had picked up just two points from their last three home league matches and were unable to get back into this one, despite Ndri Romaric's strike on the hour.
The locals rallied late on, but were unable to find an equaliser and saw their fading championship hopes all but extinguished following another miserable evening.
Villarreal missed the chance to record their sixth successive home win in La Liga after being held 1-1 by Almeria, who have now taken four points in two games under new coach Juan Manuel Lillo.
Villarreal took the lead just before half-time through record-signing Nilmar, but the Yellow Submarine were pegged back midway through the second half when Almeria drew level with a Miguel Angel Corona penalty.
That spot-kick was awarded when Ivan Marcano was adjudged to have dragged down Henok Goitom in the area, and to complete a miserable night for the Villarreal centre-back he was also sent-off late on for a second bookable offence.
