La Liga wrap: Barca thump Catalan rivals

Barcelona hammered local rivals Espanyol 5-1 in La Liga on Saturday, while Villarreal and Valencia also won.

Espanyol held Barca to a 0-0 draw last season in the first Catalan derby at the new Estadi Cornella El-Prat, but there was no repeat this time around, with the league leaders maintaining their extraordinary goal-scoring form.

Pedro made the breakthrough in the 19th minute, before Xavi Hernandez made it two 11 minutes later.

Pedro grabbed his second just after the hour mark, before Pablo Osvaldo struck for the hosts, scoring the first goal conceded by Barca in six games in all competitions.

There was no sign of a comeback for Espanyol though, who fell further behind to a brace from Spain international David Villa in the final 15 minutes.

Barca are now five points clear of second-place Real Madrid, who take on Sevilla on Sunday.

Villarreal bounced back from a 1-0 defeat away to Getafe last week with a 3-1 win at home to Mallorca.

Jonathan de Guzman cancelled out Santi Cazorla’s opener, but Giuseppe Rossi restored Villarreal’s lead from the penalty spot in the 34th minute.

Brazil international Nilmar sealed the win with Valencia’s third in the 51st minute.

Valencia fell behind to a Xabi Prieto penalty 23 minutes into their match away to Real Sociedad, but Alberto Costa levelled in first-half injury time before Aritz Aduriz struck a 91st minute winner to steal all three points at the death.

Goals from Igor Gabilondo and Javi Mart?nez helped Athletic Bilbao climbed to sixth with a 2-1 win away to Levante, while Diego Castro Gimenez secured a 1-1 draw for Sporting Gijon with an 89th-minute equaliser away to Deportivo La Coruna.