Barcelona maintained their grip on the Spanish title thanks to a wonderful Luis Suarez hat-trick, including an audacious penalty move with Lionel Messi, to see off a spirited RC Celta de Vigo 6-1 on Sunday.
Atletico Madrid remain three points behind after they were 1-0 winners at Getafe thanks to Fernando Torres’ first-minute goal.
Real Madrid slip down to third, a further point adrift of Barca, who also have a game in hand on both clubs from the capital.
Photo: EPA
Messi’s brilliant free-kick opened the scoring at the Camp Nou, but Celta deservedly drew level before halftime through John Guidetti’s penalty.
However, Suarez took over in the final half hour as he swept home Messi’s fine through-ball, before prodding home from point-blank range.
The best was still to come, though, as Messi passed a penalty into Suarez’s path to complete his hat-trick, before Ivan Rakitic and Neymar rounded off the scoring.
“Some will like it, some won’t, but as Barca players and members of the club, on top of winning titles, we try to enjoy our football in a spectacular way,” Barca boss Luis Enrique said about the penalty routine.
The final score was harsh on an under-strength Celta, who acquitted themselves well for the first hour, before being blown away by the magic of Barca’s star front three.
Messi got a festival of brilliant goals started with a sumptuous long-range free-kick into the top corner just before the half-hour mark.
Yet, Celta reacted positively and after Claudio Bravo parried Claudio Beauvue’s spectacular volley, the visitors were given a lifeline as Jordi Alba chopped down Guidetti inside the penalty area.
The Swede missed a spot-kick as Celta bowed out of the Copa del Rey semi-finals to Sevilla last week, but the former Manchester City and Celtic striker dispatched the penalty confidently into the bottom corner.
Barca started much more brightly after the break and Suarez hit the post following brilliant wing play from Neymar just 60 seconds into the second half.
The Uruguayan was more precise on the hour mark as he swept home Messi’s scooped through-ball first time into the top corner.
More magical footwork from Messi and Neymar left Suarez with an open goal to move back ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo as La Liga’s top scorer 15 minutes from time.
However, it was his third that will be replayed the world over as, after Messi was tripped inside the penalty area, he casually passed the ball into the path of the onrushing Suarez to slot home.
The party was not finished there as Suarez’s lovely through-ball was looped over Sergio Alvarez by Rakitic for the fifth and Suarez added another assist to a sparkling performance for Neymar also to dink the ball over the stranded Alvarez in stoppage-time.
Atletico had a far more routine win at Getafe to remain in the title hunt.
Torres ended a five-month goal drought to net his 100th Atletico goal against Sociedad Deportiva Eibar the previous weekend and he was brilliantly picked out by Yannick Carrasco’s low cross to get the visitors off to the perfect start.
Atletico then held on to record their 15th clean sheet in 24 La Liga games this season to leapfrog Real Madrid back into second place.
However, Diego Simeone’s men did suffer a big injury blow when Carrasco hobbled off with ankle ligament damage early in the second half.
The Belgium international is now a major doubt for both Atletico’s trips to PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League round-of-16 next week and the Madrid derby in two weeks.
Elsewhere, Sevilla closed the gap on Villarreal in the battle for the fourth Champions League place to eight points with a 2-0 win over relegation threatened UD Las Palmas.
Second-half goals from Ever Banega and Kevin Gameiro overcame the Canary Islanders’ resistance to register Sevilla’s 13th consecutive home win in all competitions.
Basque minnows Sociedad Deportiva Eibar’s brilliant second season in the top flight continued as they saw off Levante UD 2-0 to move up to sixth, while Real Sociedad moved into the top half with their third straight win, 3-0 over Granada.
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