LIONEL Messi netted two late goals as champions Barcelona thrashed Sevilla 4-0 on Saturday to stretch their advantage over second-placed Real Madrid at the top to five points.
Real had earlier slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Athletic Bilbao with Fernando Llorente scoring the third-minute winner.
With just under half the season gone, unbeaten Barca have 46 points from 18 matches, Real are on 41.
“Athletic are a very strong side and they knew very well how to defend the lead they managed to get so early in the game,” Real coach Manuel Pellegrini said at a post-match news conference.
“We had five or six clear chances but we lacked precision and were missing a bit of luck,” he added.
“There is a long way to go in the league and there are 60 points still to play for so nothing is decided.”
Holders Barca were ousted from the King’s Cup by Sevilla last Wednesday and Pep Guardiola’s players looked hungry for revenge at Camp Nou.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thierry Henry and Messi all went close before Sevilla defender Julien Escude diverted a Rafael Marquez cross high into his own net in the 49th minute.
A perfectly weighted, defence-splitting pass from midfielder Xavi released substitute Pedro with 20 minutes left and his delicate chip beat advancing Sevilla goalkeeper Andres Palop.
Messi finished from close range in the 85th and then raced on to an Eric Abidal pass in the first minute of added time to score his 14th goal of the campaign.
Bilbao had stormed out of the blocks at their packed and intimidating San Mames stadium earlier on Saturday and midfielder Carlos Gurpegi and striker Gaizka Toquero were denied only by the woodwork inside the first minute.
Real were behind two minutes later when Lassana Diarra could only head a Fran Yeste corner into the path of Llorente and the striker stooped to nod the ball past helpless goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
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