Published>Sun, Jan 24 10 01:29 PM
Madrid, Jan 24 (DPA) Barcelona confirmed their status as the best football team in the world with another high-quality display, thrashing lowly Valladolid 3-0 away.
The latest rout Saturday stretches their lead atop La Liga to eight points.
Barca have 49 points from 19 games. Real, who are at home to Malaga Sunday, have 41.
This is the fifth time in La Liga history that a team have reached the halfway point unbeaten, and the first time ever that Barca have done it.
Josep Guardiola's slick side have never looked in danger of defeat and have conceded just 10 goals, a new record at this stage of the season.
Guardiola, who announced Wednesday that he would continue for at least another season, said: 'It's not bad to be unbeaten for the first half of the season, but it is really just anecdotal. There are many games left to play.'
'The important thing,' he said, 'is that we continue to be aggressive, wanting to open things up and generate chances.'
Barca playmaker Andres Iniesta said: 'We have done our part. Now let's see what Madrid are going to do tomorrow.'
Lionel Messi and company could have scored more goals, had they not eased up in the second half.
Valladolid, who are fourth from bottom, made a spirited start only to be cruelly hit by two Barca sucker punches.
In the 21st minute, Dani Alves escaped down the right and centred for Xavi to make it 1-0 with a classy volley.
Just two minutes later, the indefatigable Alves broke free again and centred for Zlatan Ibrahimovic - but his cross accidentally drifted over goalkeeper Justo Villar for the second score.
The two quick goals knocked the stuffing out of Valladolid, who never threatened to turn the match around.
Barca enjoyed 70 per cent possession and could have scored five or six times in the second half. In the 55th minute, Ibrahimovic centred for Messi who made it 3-0 with his trusty left foot.
It was Messi's 15th league goal of the season and leaves him atop the scorers' chart, one goal ahead of Valencia's David Villa.
Later Saturday, Deportivo Coruna moved up to fourth by beating Athletic Bilbao 3-1 at home.
It was a bittersweet victory for Deportivo, because Brazilian left-back Filipe Luis badly broke his right leg while scoring the first goal. He was stretchered off in tears and will miss the rest of the season, as well as the World Cup finals for Brazil.
Fellow Brazilian Juca made it 2-0, and Pablo Alvarez sealed the win with a third goal after Deportivo defender Diego Colotto had scored an own goal.
Deportivo now have 34 points from 19 games, four less than third- place Valencia, who are at Tenerife Sunday.
Deportivo are one point above Mallorca and Sevilla, who now share fifth place.
Earlier Saturday, Sevilla halted their four-match losing streak by beating Almeria 1-0 at home on an early goal from Alvaro Negredo.
'We really needed to win today, but it was not an easy game at all,' Sevilla midfielder Renato said.
There was a large element of fortune in Sevilla's goal, which came after nine minutes. Almeria defender Wilmer Acasiete tried to play a back-pass to goalkeeper Diego Alves, but the ball held up in a watery patch, allowing Renato to set up Negredo to score.
Sevilla should have added to their lead but were foiled by the agile Alves.
The other good news for Sevilla was the return to action of Brazil striker Luis Fabiano after a two-month injury lay-off.
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