MADRID, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona moved 11 points clear of Real Madrid and three ahead of Atletico Madrid after a 5-0 win away to Rayo Vallecano in the Spanish Primera Liga on Saturday.
Rayo made a lot of the early running in their small Vallecas Stadium, but fell behind to a well-taken David Villa coach after 20 minutes. Once again Cesc Fabrigas was the provider.
Leo Messi doubled Barca's lead with a precise left foot shot two minutes into the second half and although Rayo threatened on occasions and never let their heads drop, Xavi Hernandez made it 3-0 with 11 minutes left and Cesc Fabrigas added a fourth two minutes later.
Rayo coach Paco Jemez had said on Friday that he would have felt embarrassed if he side sat back and defended as Glasgow Celtic had during their unlucky 2-1 defeat in the Champions League on Tuesday night, but he may have regretted those words when Messi netted his second of the night two minutes from time.
The result piles the pressure on Real and Atletico Madrid, who both place on Sunday: Real travel to Mallorca, while Atletico entertain bottom of the table Osasuna.
Saturday kicked off with third place Malaga drawing 0-0 away to Espanyol. Malaga rested several players after their Champions League win over AC Milan on Wednesday night and the result was a game in which there are few chances in either goalmouth.
An early goal from Salva Sevilla kept Betis close to the top of the table thanks to a 1-0 win at home to a very irregular Valencia side, who are still struggling to put together a convincing run of form.
Finally the return of the Galician derby to the Primera Liga lived up to expectations with a tense game between Celta Vigo and Deportivo la Coruna. Mario Bermejo put Celta ahead early in the first half but 37-year-old Juan Carlos Valeron leveled before the break.
Celta then had to play for most of the second half with a man less after Gustavo Cabral was shown two yellow cards in three minutes by referee Undiano Mallenco. However, the home side, cheered on by their fans were able to hold on the remaining 40 minutes to ensure honors were even at the end.