Barça pounce on Madrid slip

FC Barcelona made the most of Real Madrid CF being held 1-1 at bottom-placed UD Almería, beating Málaga CF 4-1 to pull four points ahead of their rivals at the Liga summit.

FC Barcelona’s Liga defence continues apace after they defeated Málaga CF 4-1 to extend their lead at the top to four points.
Josep Guardiola’s side’s routine victory started in the eighth minute, Andrés Iniesta clipping in a delightful half-volley via a post. David Villa (18) slotted in the second, Pedro Rodríguez added a third nine minutes before half-time and Villa scored the fourth with 16 minutes remaining. Duda had pulled one back for the visitors midway through the second half. Barça are now on 52 points – a record for the first half of a Liga campaign – having won 13 league fixtures in a row. They are also 28 games unbeaten in all competitions, eclipsing a club record set in 1974.
Real Madrid CF, conversely, had to settle for a point at bottom-placed UD Almería on Sunday having fallen behind to a José Ulloa goal on the hour. Madrid’s equaliser came courtesy of Esteban Granero 13 minutes from the end. Nine points further back in third are Villarreal CF following their 4-2 win against CA Osasuna on Saturday. The top four is completed by Valencia CF, 2-0 conquerors of RC Deportivo La Coruña thanks to goals from Jérémy Mathieu and Pablo Hernández.
Meanwhile, Real Zaragoza enhanced their survival prospects with a 1-0 win against relegation rivals Levante UD. Gabi struck the only goal just before the interval, sending his side above their opponents into 18th. Real Sporting de Gijón moved out of the bottom three by beating Hércules CF 2-0.
Elsewhere, Real Sociedad de Fútbol were Saturday’s biggest victors, prevailing 4-0 at Getafe CF, while RCD Espanyol are fifth having edged Sevilla FC 2-1. One place lower are Athletic Club after their 2-1 defeat of Real Racing Club.

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