Barcelona are back in command in Spain after a 4-0 home thrashing of lowly Racing Santander on Saturday.
It was the best possible way for the world champions to react after their first league defeat of the season, against Atletico Madrid last Sunday.
Barca brushed aside their injury problems in a convincing first-half display, which brought goals from Andres Iniesta, Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez. Teenage supersub Thiago made it 4-0 later on, with his first goal for Barca.
Barca are now five points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, who are at home to unpredictable Villarreal on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola’s side went into his 100th game in charge without injury victims Dani Alves, Eric Abidal, Xavi, Seydou Keita and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but were soon in the driving seat.
They went ahead after just seven minutes. Santander defender Jose Crespo made a mess of a long ball from Marquez and Iniesta gratefully made it 1-0 with his left foot.
It was Iniesta’s first goal of an injury-plagued season, and will give him the much-needed confidence as he fills in for Xavi in the playmaker role.
Another Barca player in need of a goal was the out-of-form Henry, who made it 2-0 in the 29th minute with a free-kick that went through a porous wall.
Six minutes later Marquez scored with a more handsome free-kick, which went in off the near post.
Barca understandably eased up in the second-half, with their minds on Tuesday’s Champions League clash away to Vfb Stuttgart. Even so, Lionel Messi set up Thiago to score the fourth goal six minutes from time.
Thiago, 18, is the son of 1994 Brazilian World Cup winner Mazinho and is also among the many promising youngsters that Guardiola is bringing in from the nursery team.
Earlier on Saturday, Deportivo Coruna had moved up to fifth place with a 2-1 home win over bottom team Xerez.
The Galicians went ahead after just three minutes through an Andres Guardado penalty, after Xerez midfielder Vicente Moreno had held Diego Colotto at a free-kick.
Four minutes later Riki made it 2-0 with a powerful high drive after breaking free down the right.
Six minutes before half-time, Mario Bermejo reduced arrears with a powerful header, but Xerez never looked capable of turning the match around and Deportivo held on without too many problems.
Xerez, in their first-ever season in the top flight, are eight points adrift at the bottom and heading for a quick return to the second division.
Deportivo, in contrast, are now fifth, one point above Mallorca and one behind fourth-placed Sevilla.
“We started the match really well, and should really have won by a more comfortable margin,” said Riki. “We have a good chance of fighting for fourth place, if we manage to improve our away form.” Later on Saturday, Sevilla will be away to a Mallorca side who have won every match at home this season. If they manage to beat Sevilla, the islanders will take fourth place from them, by one point.
