Real Madrid produced a ruthless first-half display to thrash already-relegated Granada 4-0 on Saturday and remains on course for a first league title in five years, while Barcelona hammered Villarreal 4-1.
James Rodriguez put Zinedine Zidane’s side in charge in the third minute by bundling in Lucas Vazquez’s arrowed cross and then headed in a cross from forgotten man Fabio Coentrao to double its lead in the 11th, scoring for the fifth time in four games.
Alvaro Morata followed the Colombian’s early strikes with two goals of his own in the 30th and 35th to kill off Tony Adams’ sunken side and put Real level on 84 points with champion Barca.
Barca leads the standings due to its superior head-to-head record although Real has a game in hand and will win a first domestic title since 2012 if it takes seven points from its remaining three games.
Barca’s formidable front three of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar all scored as the champion inflicted the heaviest league defeat of the season on Villarreal, which has the second best defensive record in Spain’s top flight.
Neymar was in sensational form in his second game back from suspension and nudged Barcelona ahead in the 21st minute after pouncing on a deflected pass from Messi.
Cedric Bakambu fired Villarreal level in the 32nd after beating the offside trap to latch on to a clever through ball from Roberto Soldado.
Barca was temporarily punctured by the leveller but a marvellous piece of skill from Messi allowed it to restore its lead on the stroke of halftime with a shot from the Argentine which flew beyond Andres Fernandez with the help of a deflection.
100 for MNS
Suarez powered the ball under the Villarreal goalkeeper in the 69th to score his third goal in two games and the 100th for the front three this campaign, while Messi grabbed the fourth with a deft chip from the penalty spot in the 82nd.
“We played very well with and without the ball and scoring four goals against this Villarreal side shows how well we did,” Barca coach Luis Enrique told reporters. “Our pressure was key and we produced a complete performance against a great side.”
The results:
Premier League: Liverpool 0 drew with Southampton 0.
La Liga: Alaves 1 (Hernandez 53) bt Athletic Bilbao 0.
Serie A: Udinese 1 (Perica 53) drew with Atalanta 1 (Cristante 41); Chievo 1 (Pellissier 67-pen) drew with Palermo 1 (Goldaniga 88); Empoli 3 (Croce 5, Pasqual 38, Costa 47) bt Bologna 1 (Verdi 11); Genoa 1 (Pandev 70) bt Inter Milan 0; Lazio 7 (Keita 3, Immobile 19-pen, 70, Hoedt 36, Anderson 38-pen, De Vrij 45, Lulic 65) bt Sampdoria 3 (Linetty 32, Quagliarella 72, 90-pen); Pescara 0 lost to Crotone 1 (Tonev 71); Sassuolo 2 (Politano 74-pen, Iemmello 85) drew with Fiorentina 2 (Chiesa 37, Bernardeschi 90+4).
Bundesliga: Hamburg 0 drew with Mainz 0.
On Saturday: Premier League: Swansea 1 (Llorente 29) bt Everton 0.
La Liga: Barcelona 4 (Neymar 21, Messi 45, 82-pen, Suarez 68) bt Villarreal 1 (Bakambu 32); Granada 0 lost to Real Madrid 4 (Rodriguez 3, 11, Morata 30, 35).
Serie A: Napoli 3 (Mertens 2, 49, Insigne 67) bt Cagliari 1 (Farias 90+2); Juventus 1 (Higuain 90+2) drew with Torino 1 (Ljajic 52).
Bundesliga: Hertha Berlin 1 (Khedira 85-og) lost to RB Leipzig 4 (Werner 12, 54, Selke 89, 90+2).
