(1-0) 15' Bojan, (2-0) 68' Pedro, (3-0) 72' Toure Yaya
Barcelona brushed aside a weak Depor side to leap six points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga. Barca dominated the match with embarrassing ease, but it wasn't until late on in the second half before they made sure of the win. Bojan, who has looked razor sharp in this seasons home straight, put Barca infront early on after yet another defence splitting pass from Xavi Hernandez. Messi may well be the best player in world football right now, but the importance of Xavi to this side can never be underestimated. Deportivo didn't get a touch of the ball in the first half, but the Galicians fought their way back into the match after halftime, and gave the host a couple of scares before Pedro got the all important second goal with twenty minutes remaining.
And what a goal it was. Victor Valdes pumped the ball forward and when Depor keeper Aranzubia failed to properly clear his lines, Pedro curled the ball first-time into the empty net from close to the halfway line. The young man from Tenerife displaying once more his exquisite quality, and after his match-settling goal in the Clasico, the stage is set for Pedro to emerge as a vital cog in the Barca machine next season, if he isn't already. Toure Yaya smashed in the third shortly after, allowing the Camp Nou crowd to break into Mexican waves as the match drew to a close. If Real Madrid fail to get anything other than a win tomorrow at Almeria, its game over.
Atletico Madrid 1 - 2 Xerez
(0-1) 9' Bermejo, (1-1) 11' Forlan, (1-2) 72' Armenteros
Who saw this one coming? Just when it seemed Xerez were out for the count, they pull off an incredible away victory at the Vicente Calderon. Atletico Madrid may well have given up on the league, but the small team from Andalucia certainly havn't. They are now only six points behind Málaga and with a vital home match against Racing Santander coming up this weekend, they could well be only three points off salvation as we enter the final five matches. Mario Bermejo and Emilio Armenteros headed in both the goals, with De Gea left glaringly exposed on both occasions. Meanwhile, for Atletico, La Liga appears to be an inconvenient distraction as they prepare to fight it out with Liverpool and Sevilla in their search for silverware. Tonight they were woeful, with only Forlans bullet of a goal worth cheering about. Jurado has replaced Diego Forlan as the crowds public enemy number one, as the fans make their dismay at their teams league form abundantly clear.
Real Zaragoza 1 - 1 Mallorca
(0-1) 13' Ruben, (1-1) 21' Suazo
Real Zaragoza really aren't making it easy for themselves. Anyone who follows 'Los Maños' knows that they struggle badly to score points away from home, which makes those matches at La Romareda doubly important. Just as well the referee wrongly ruled out a late Aduriz goal that would have placed Zaragoza in serious trouble. Ruben headed Mallorca into the lead but Zaragoza were quick to level matters as 'Chupete' Suazo chipped a delightful goal over Aouate. The Chilean has been an inspired signing and could well be the difference between relegation and survival. Borja Valero gave yet another Xavi-esque performance as his team leapfrog Sevilla in the fight for the fourth Champions League position.
Racing Santander 3 - 1 Espanyol
(0-1) 32' Alonso (1-1) 36' Tchite (p), (2-1) 50' Tchite (p), (3-1) 91' Arana
Osasuna 2 - 2 Malaga
(1-0) 10' Pandiani, (1-1) 32' Caicedo, (2-1) 48' Pandiani, (2-2) 76' Baha