Pedro Rodriguez netted a brace as champions Barcelona started the year with a nervy 2-1 home win over Levante on Sunday to move five points clear of Real Madrid at the Spanish first division summit.
Pedro struck on 47 and 59 minutes to clinch an 11th successive league victory for Barca.
Brazilian Dani Alves set up the opener for Pedro, faking to shoot twice before laying the ball back for the forward to drill home Barcelona’s first goal two minutes after the break.
Alves was the provider for the second goal as well, teeing up Pedro to curl a controlled shot into the corner.
It was a special game for Spanish World Cup winner Xavi, who equalled Barcelona’s all-time appearance record.
The 30-year-old made his 549th outing to draw level with legendary center-back Migueli.
“We wanted to win this game for him [Xavi],” Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola said. “I played for many years here and reached 300 games which seemed a lot. If his tendons hold out I think he could reach 700 games.”
With seven minutes gone, Andres Iniesta had a chip tipped over and David Villa then sliced a shot wide as Levante rode their luck.
Xavi should have marked his landmark appearance with the opening goal after 26 minutes, but he shot wide after Iniesta had created the chance with a neat run down the left.
Barcelona got the perfect start in the second half, however, as Pedro scored two minutes after the restart.
He made it four goals in his last two league games with his second, curling a fine shot into the left-hand side of the goal just before the hour.
Christian Stuani gave the champions a late scare by brilliantly volleying home on 80 minutes, but Barcelona survived to take the points.
Athletic Bilbao sank to a 2-1 defeat against Deportivo La Coruna earlier on Sunday, with Adrian Alvarez scoring both goals as the visitors recorded only their second away win of the campaign.
Elsewhere, 10-man Valencia defeated Espanyol 2-1 thanks to a controversial late winner from Juan Mata.
Mata looked to be offside as he scored the decisive goal in stoppage-time as fourth-placed Valencia moved three points clear of Espanyol and two points behind Villarreal in third.
Valencia took the lead courtesy of a header from Aritz Aduriz on 29 minutes, but teammate Ricardo Costa then headed into his own net as he tried to clear a cross. Goalscorer Aduriz saw his night ruined on the hour mark when he was harshly red-carded for hitting Francisco Chica with a stray arm, prompting the defender to collapse on the ground.
Espanyol pushed, but Valencia scored in the dying seconds with Costa heading across for Mata to score from close range.
Sevilla moved six points off the top four ending a run of five consecutive league defeats with a 1-0 home win over Osasuna.
Freddy Kanoute headed the winning goal on 35 minutes as Sevilla moved up to ninth in the table.
Malaga moved out of the bottom three with a 2-1 win at relegation rivals Sporting Gijon.
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