Luis Suarez's first hat-trick for Barcelona and a brace from Lionel Messi were the headline acts as the Catalans thrashed Cordoba 8-0 away from home, relegating the Andalusian side in the process.
Cordoba 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 stayed top of the Primera Division thanks to this avalanche of goals, while Cordoba mathematically sealed their immediate return to the Segunda Division.
Real Madrid remained in the title race and are two points behind Barca after a tight 3-2 win over Sevilla.
Cristiano Ronaldo was the star of the show with a hat-trick as ended Sevilla's remarkable unbeaten home run with a 3-2 win at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
The Portugal forward netted twice in a minute late in the first half to put Los Blancos in command, but their advantage was reduced to a single goal before the break when Carlos Bacca scored from the penalty spot after an ill-advised challenge by Sergio Ramos.
Ronaldo headed in a fine Gareth Bale cross from a tight angle to calm the visitors' nerves midway through the second period, only for Vicente Iborra to set up a tense finale, but Madrid held on to become the first side to beat Sevilla at home in the league in 448 days.
Third-placed Atletico Madrid were unable to match the top two, though, drawing 0-0 with Athletic Bilbao and ending the night with 10 men as Unai Bustinza was sent off.
Source: PA
