La Liga wrap: Barcelona cruise, Real held

Barcelona beat Malaga 4-1 to extend their lead to four points in La Liga on Sunday, after Real Madrid were held to a draw with Almeria.

Andres Iniesta opened the scoring for Barca just eight minutes in at the Camp Nou, collecting a Dani Alves cross before slotting the ball past Malaga goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo and into the net.

Argentina international Lionel Messi set up David Villa to score their second in the 18th minute.

And when Asenjo could only parry an Iniesta shot, Pedro was on hand to bury the rebound and put the hosts 3-0 up, effectively ending the match as a contest with just 36 minutes played.

Duda pulled a goal back for Malaga with an expertly-taken free kick in the 68th minute, but Barca responded quickly through Villa.

With 16 minutes remaining, the former Valencia striker – played in by Xavi Hernandez – rounded Asenjo before easing the ball home from a tight angle to make it 4-1.

Barca move to 52 points with the result, four ahead of Real after the second-placed side were held to a 1-1 draw away to Almeria.

Sitting bottom in La Liga, Almeria took a shock lead through Jose Ulloa in the 60th minute at the Estadio de los juegos Mediterraneos.

After Pablo Piatti collided with defender Sergio Ramos inside the Real box, the ball fell kindly for Ulloa, who guided a left-foot shot beyond Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas and into the net.

Spurred into action, Real piled forward in search of an equaliser.

It arrived in the form of substitute Esteban Granero, who ran onto a Karim Benzema lay off before striking the ball into the roof of the net.

Jose Mourinho’s side might have won it through Cristiano Ronaldo’s free kick in the last minute, but they were forced to settle for a draw that may prove costly as they attempt to prevent Barca from capturing a third successive La Liga title.

Valencia are fourth following a 2-0 win at home to Deportivo La Coruna.

French fullback Jeremy Mathieu broke the deadlock with 13 minutes left at the Estadio Mestalla, before Pablo made sure of the points in the 90th minute.