Best World soccer player Lionel Messi struck a hat-trick and Bojan Krkic bagged a brace as Barca strolled to an incredible 8-0 victory at lowly Almeria in the Spanish Primera Division.
Barcelona raced into a 5-0 lead before half-time in a hugely one-sided contest. Messi opened the scoring after 17 minutes and Andres Iniesta took advantage of poor defending to score the second just two minutes later.
A Santiago Acasiete own goal made it 3-0 before the half hour mark, Pedro made it four 10 minutes prior to the interval and Messi added his second in Barca's very next attack.
Substitute Bojan added two in the second half and Messi completed his hat-trick as Guardiola's side ran riot in Andalusia.
Villarreal fought back to draw 1-1 after going behind to regional rivals Valencia, but saw their perfect home record in the Primera Division this season brought to an end by Unai Emery's defensive-minded side.
Aritz Aduriz gave Valencia the lead after 20 minutes, but Villarreal hit back in the second half and levelled through Giuseppe Rossi late on.
However, Real Madrid took back top spot as they beat Athletic Bilbao 5-1 at the Bernabeu. Gonzalo Higuain opened the scoring, but it was Ronaldo's night as he bagged a hat-trick.
Gonzalo Higuain opened the scoring and Ronaldo made it 2-0, before Fernando Llorente struck back just before half-time.
A Sergio Ramos penalty may have left Jose Mourinho quizzical, but it put Real in control again after the break and Ronaldo's swerving free-kick was palmed into his own net by Gorka Iraizoz soon after. Another penalty, this time for a foul on Esteban Granero was coolly dispatched by Ronaldo at the second attempt to seal his hat-trick and put him on 14 goals from 12 games in the league this season.
