Lionel Messi scored for the sixth consecutive game in all competitions as Barcelona tightened their grip in the La Liga title race with a 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao at the Camp Nou.
Messi scored his 25th league goal for the ninth consecutive season and took his tally to 38 in all competitions with a finish from the edge of the penalty area.
Paco Alcacer had already put the hosts ahead as Jordi Alba reached the byline before cutting the ball back to Alcacer, who was left with a simple side-foot finish past Athletic goalkeeper Kepa.
In the 33rd minute, Ousmane Dembele picked out Messi, who had been left unmarked lurking on the edge of the penalty area, and he punished the visitors by drilling the ball into the bottom corner.
Atletico Madrid's faint hopes of catching Barcelona were dealt a major blow after a 2-1 defeat at Villarreal.
Atletico took the lead thanks to a penalty that was converted by Antoine Griezmann in the 20th minute, but two goals in the final nine minutes from substitute Enes Unal secured the victory for Villarreal and left Atletico 11 points adrift of Barca.
Atletico tempers boiled over in stoppage time and Vitolo was sent off after clashing with Nicola Sansone.
Javier Eraso ensured Sevilla came down to earth after knocking Manchester United out of the Champions League as Leganes won 2-1 at Estadio Municipal de Butarque.
Eraso scored in the 69th minute to ease the home side into the relative calm of La Liga's mid-table and dent Sevilla's attempts to reel in the top four.
Defender Unai Bustinza had headed the hosts into the lead four minutes before the break, and Sevilla's hopes of dragging themselves back into the game were effectively dashed when Pablo Sarabia was dismissed for a second bookable offence despite Miguel Layun's last-minute effort.
Elsewhere, bottom side Malaga picked up a rare point in a goalless draw at Celta Vigo.
Source: espn.co.uk