Goals from Messi, Villa & Pedrito helped La Liga leaders Barcelona extend the gap between nearest challengers Real Madrid. The 3-0 win at Mallorca gave the Catalan giants a seven point lead over Real after Los Galacticos were held to a goalless draw at lowly Deportivo La Coruna.

Argentinean star Lionel Messi struck after thirty eight minutes but Barce were only safe after David Villa added a second before the hour. Pedrito completed the job increasing Barce’s goal difference in the process. Real could not break down a stubborn Deportivo defence and with an increasing climb to catch the leaders, nothing less than maximum points from every game will keep them in the race for the La Liga title.

Valencia came back late against Athletic Bilbao with first Mata and later Oliveira striking in the last twenty minutes to claim all three points following Llorente’s early goal for the home side. Fourth-place Villarreal also left it late it grab a point at Racing Santander.  Nahuelpan hit a third minute opener and when Giovani added to this, Racing were on top. But Ruben scored just after the hour and Nilmar snatched a share of the spoils in injury time.

Espanyol did themselves no harm with a fine 4-1 home win against Real Sociedad even though Sociedad’s Daniel Estrada tried to make the game his own, scoring for and against his own team in five bizarre first half minutes. But Sergio Garcia pulled the hosts clear and late strikes from Callejon and Marquez made it look comfortable.

At the bottom, Malaga and Almeria did not play whilst third-bottom Real Zaragoza won a hard-fought point in a nil-nil draw at Sporting Gijon. Both teams closed on Osasuna who lost 2-1 at Levante after taking the lead.