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Barcelona maintained their six-point lead at the top of La Liga by smashing a forlorn Malaga side 6-0 at the Camp Nou.

Real Madrid had earlier cut the gap to three points with a 3-0 victory at home to Almeria, but a sumptuous first-half performance saw the Catalans bag four goals and regain their pre-weekend advantage.

The first came after 19 minutes when a Samuel Eto'o through-ball found Xavi in the box; the midfielder coolly slotted underneath the oncoming Inaki Goitia in the Malaga goal.

The second came six minutes later courtesy of a piece of genius from Lionel Messi, the Argentine beating three men before lashing the ball in from four yards.

Thierry Henry added to the goal-fest on 32 minutes, rounding Goitia after a clinical Xavi through-ball to finish with ease.

Eto'o completed the first-half rout, nutmegging the Mexican keeper after another assist from the impeccable Xavi on 43 minutes.

The second half was not much better for Malaga, with Barca continuing where they left off in the first.

Right-back Daniel Alves headed past Goitia on 51 minutes after a delightfully chipped through-ball from Iniesta before Eto'o grabbed his second of the night, tapping in after a cross from Henry on 57 minutes.

Barcelona then took their foot off the gas, cruising to the final whistle.

Malaga drop to eighth position on 43 points.

Real Madrid comfortably overcame a spirited Almeria side 3-0 in the Bernabeu.

The first half was an open affair, with both teams attacking at will. However Real always carried the greater threat and it was no surprise when they opened the scoring on 23 minutes.

Madrid's Brazilian full-back Marcelo unleashed an unstoppable drive from just outside the box, giving Diego in the Almeria goal no chance.

Both teams then had chances to add to the scoring but it was not until the 53rd minute that the next goal came. This time Dutch goal-machine Klaas Jan-Hunelaar got in on the act, smashing home from 12 yards after poor Almeria defending.

The striker than added a third on 66 minutes, finishing clinically after Diego could only parry a Robben shot into the path of the former PSV man.

The result leaves Almeria two points above the relegation zone while Real temporarily close the gap on rivals Barcelona at the top.

Ten-man Valencia won their first game since the beginning of February when Juan Mata netted late on for a 1-0 victory at Racing Santander.

Unai Emery's side had had defender Alexis sent off at the start of the second half and survived a last-minute penalty from Racing which Oscar Serrano blasted against the crossbar.

Valencia are sixth with 43 points behind Atletico Madrid on goal difference. Atletico lost 2-0 at struggling Mallorca in Sunday's late game.

At the foot of the table, Javad Nekounam's last-minute header gave Osasuna a 1-0 home win over Espanyol that pushed Mallorca into the bottom three temporarily on goal difference.

However the three points against Atleti saw the island team jump up six places to 12th.

Numancia, who beat Sporting Gijon 2-1 at home, are 19th with 26 points, three ahead of Espanyol.

Tim Burnett / Reuters