FC Barcelona continued their scintillating form in the Spanish Liga with a 4-0 triumph away to RC Deportivo La Coruña that moved them five points clear of Real Madrid CF.

Depor had conceded only four times at home in the league prior to the champions' visit but Josep Guardiola's side were typically irrepressible in attack. Lionel Messi was the talisman again, his incisive pass releasing David Villa to squeeze a shot through the legs of Daniel Aranzubia after 26 minutes.

Messi's 25-metre free-kick six minutes into the second half made it 2-0 and two goals in as many minutes late on secured the victory. Andrés Iniesta (80) rifled in the third from the edge of the area before Messi slipped in Pedro Rodríguez to make it 32 goals in Barça's last seven Liga successes.

In San Sebastien, meanwhile, Sevilla FC twice came from behind to defeat Real Sociedad de Fútbol and climb to ninth with 26 points from 18 games. Frédéric Kanouté scored in between Sociedad pair Diego Rivas and Joseba Llorente in the first half, and then scored the winner in the 65th after Luís Fabiano had equalised for a second time two minutes earlier.

The Andalusian club trail Athletic Club on goal difference after Javi Martínez headed a 93rd-minute equaliser in off the post to cancel out Martín Demichelis's 81st-minute opener for Málaga CF at La Rosaleda.

Results

Standings

Photo gallery