Barcelona produced another awe-inspiring display as they crushed lowly Getafe 6-0 in La Liga on Saturday afternoon to extend their unbeaten run to 37 games.
Luis Enrique’s men opened up an 11-point lead over nearest rivals Atletico Madrid in the title race with just nine games remaining, with Real a further four points behind their city neighbours.
Having enjoyed their first free midweek since December, the reigning European champions warmed up nicely for the visit of Arsenal in the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday, where they hold a 2-0 first-leg advantage, in fine style.
An own goal by Juan Rodriguez, plus goals from Munir, Arda Turan, a double by Neymar and Lionel Messi secured the rout, with Barca’s inspirational Argentine supplying a hat-trick of assists in a La Liga game for the first time and also affording to miss from the penalty spot.
Victory was the hosts’ 13th straight win in the league, while the visitors are plummeting down the table with eight defeats in their last nine games now – leaving them hovering dangerously just over the drop zone.