La Liga wrap: Goals flow for Barca, Real

Barcelona and Real Madrid both recorded comfortable victories in La Liga on Sunday, while Athletic Bilbao upset Espanyol.

Barca were at their best in a 5-0 demolition job of Real Sociedad which keeps them top of the league while Real Madrid remain within touching distance after they were rarely troubled in a 3-1 win at Real Zaragoza.

The table-toppers eased to their victory which was kick-started when David Villa made the most of a regulation chance after Pedro picked him out on the left in the first 10 minutes.

Pedro and then Lionel Messi went close, with the Argentine having his shot cleared off the line despite rounding Real Sociedad goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, before Barca doubled their lead just after the half-hour mark.

With Andres Iniesta through on goal, poor keeping from Bravo allowed the Ballon D’Or nominee to shoot and score at the near post.

The third goal of the match put the result beyond doubt, with a sublime move that saw Messi and Daniel Alves find each other three times, ending in a Messi goal after a stylish finish just two minutes into the second half.

With the victory already sealed, the hosts eased up but late goals to Messi – from a sublime solo effort – and an injury-time strike to substitute Bojan wrapped up the points.

Messi’s double saw him take his season tally to 17 goals in La Liga – equal with Cristiano Ronaldo.

In Zaragoza, Jose Mourinho’s side continued to keep the pressure on Barca with another assured performance.

Mesut Oezil’s fourth of the season after 15 minutes gave the giants a lead which they never relinquished, and goals after 44 and 47 minutes from Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria respectively made sure of the points.

Madrid defender Ricardo Carvalho fouled Nicolas Bertolo in the area after 53 minutes to give the hosts a penalty, which was tucked away by Gabi nine minutes into the second half.

But Real Zaragoza – who sit bottom – were never expected to mount too much of a challenge for Mourinho’s men who were in cruise control for the last half-hour.

In other matches, mid-table Athletic Bilbao came from a goal down to beat fourth-placed Espanyol 2-1 at San Mames courtesy of strikes from Spain international Fernando Llorente and substitute David Lopez.

Goals from David Trezeguet and Royston Drenthe helped promoted Hercules beat relegation-threatened Malaga 4-1 at the Estadio Jose Rico Perez.

Racing Santander pulled four points clear of the relegation zone with a 1-0 win away to Mallorca, while Sporting Gijon remain second-bottom after a 1-1 draw at home to Levante.