La Liga wrap: Barca extend lead

Barcelona extended their lead over Real Madrid at the top of La Liga to five points with a 4-0 rout at Deportivo La Coruna.

Goals to David Villa, Lionel Messi, Andreas Iniesta and Pedro ensured the Catalans romped home after a lacklustre start at the Riazor.

Villa broke the deadlock in the 26th minute; his shot somehow making it through the legs of Deportivo goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia after he was played through by Messi.

Messi was at it again seven minutes into the second half, this time doing it on his own as he scored his 18th league goal of the season with a curling free kick.

Iniesta added another for good measure with a lovely placed shot on 80 minutes before the effervescent Pedro benefited from the service of Messi yet again with a crafty chipped finish just a minute later to seal the win.

The victory piles the pressure back on to chasing Real Madrid who host Villarreal on Sunday.

In other matches, a Freddie Kanoute brace inspired Sevilla to twice come from behind to defeat Real Sociedad 3-2.

Sociedad took the lead through Diego Rivas before Kanoute drew level almost immediately.

The lead was only brief as the home side regained their one-goal cushion just before half-time through Joseba Llorente.

Sevilla coach Gregorio Manzano introduced Alvaro Negredo and it proved to be a game-changing substitution as he set up Luis Fabiano to equalise, before providing for Kanoute’s second goal which ultimately proved to be the winner.

Athletic Bilbao rescued a point with a dramatic 1-1 draw at Malaga in Saturday’s other match.

Javi Martinez broke Malaga hearts with a header deep into stoppage time after new signing Martin Demichelis had put the hosts ahead with just 10 minutes remaining.