FC Barcelona re-established their six-point lead over Real Madrid at the Liga summit by brushing third-placed Sevilla aside 4-0 at the Camp Nou, on a night when Valencia won for the fifth successive time in the league.
Josep Guardiola’s side were two goals to the good inside 17 minutes through Andrés Iniesta and Samuel Eto’o’s close-range finish. Barça quickly found their stride at the start of the second half and increased their lead when Xavi Hernández (49) fired Iniesta’s cut-back into the top corner from the edge of the penalty area and Thierry Henry (54) slid another Iniesta assist across Sevilla goalkeeper Javi Varas.
Valencia, who host Barcelona on Saturday, won 2-1 at Real Betis Balompié thanks to David Villa’s second-half double. The victory consolidates fourth place for Los Ché, who are five points ahead of a Málaga side who won 3-2 at Osasuna. In the night’s other game, eighth-placed Deportivo La Coruña beat Almería 2-0 at the Riazor.