Barcelona remain top of La Liga after a rather flattering 0-5 win at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday evening, three of the goals coming in the final ten minutes after Rayo failed to make the most of some great chances.
David Villa put Barcelona ahead in the first half but it was Victor Valdes who was the busiest keeper of the night as Rayo kept moving forward.
Messi made it 0-2 early in the second half, his 300th goal in 422 matches for club and country, before a final ten minutes which saw Xavi, Fabregas and Messi make the scoreline rather more flattering than was deserved.
Málaga remain in third place, at least for the moment, after a bit of a lacklustre 0-0 draw at Espanyol.