Luis Suarez scored his first hat trick for Barcelona and Lionel Messi bagged a brace as the Catalans thrashed Cordoba 8-0 away from home, relegating the Andalusian side in the process.
The hosts did well to survive Barca's early onslaught but eventually fell behind to a thumping drive from Ivan Rakitic in the 42nd minute, and Suarez doubled the advantage on the stroke of half-time.
Messi stretched the visitors' lead further by scoring in the first minute of the second half, and then Suarez struck again, before Gerard Pique, Messi and Neymar each scored, the latter from the penalty spot, with Suarez grabbing his third in the 88th minute.
Barca stay top of the Primera Division by two points over Real Madrid, while Cordoba mathematically sealed their immediate return to the Segunda Division.
Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat trick as Real Madrid held on for a 3-2 win at Sevilla.
Ronaldo scored twice in two minutes in the first half to put Real in control.
Carlos Bacca got one back for the hosts on a penalty on the stroke of half-time, but a spectacular looping header from Ronaldo restored Real's two-goal advantage.
Vicente Iborra put Sevila back in contention in the 79th minute and they would have equalised if not for the strong play of Real Madrid keeper Iker Casillas, who made a number of solid saves to preserve the victory.
Atletico Madrid were forced to settle for a goalless draw against Athletic Bilbao after having two goals incorrectly disallowed for offside.
Antoine Griezmann had an effort chalked off in either half, but he was clearly onside when he scored in the second period -- as was Tiago Mendes when he found the net shortly afterwards, but again the linesman denied the hosts.
Athletic were reduced to 10 men in injury time when Unai Bustinza was sent off for two bookable offences, but there was no time for the hosts to take advantage and they failed to score at the Calderon for just the second league match all season.
Diego Simeone's side stay third in the table while Athletic temporarily move up to seventh, one point ahead of Malaga who host Elche on Sunday.
In the day's late game, Deportivo La Coruna and Villarreal played out a 1-1 draw with the visitors the happier of the two with the outcome.
Villarreal, chasing a European spot, edged further ahead in sixth thanks to their share, with Jaume Costa having put them ahead.
Deportivo remain in the bottom three, though, and this point -- earned by Celso Borges' equaliser -- puts them a point closer to safety but they will consider this two points dropped in their bid to stay up.