BARCELONA warmed up for their highly anticipated Champions League clash with Manchester City in midweek with a 6-0 thrashing of Rayo Vallecano to remain on top of La Liga on goal difference.
Atletico Madrid remain level on points with the Catalans as they too were 3-0 winners over Valladolid on Saturday.
Adriano got Barcelona off to a flying start when he curled home the opener inside two minutes.
Lionel Messi and Pedro Rodriguez then struck the post before Messi doubled Barca’s lead before half-time with a delightful lob over Ruben Martinez.
The Argentine then teed up Alexis Sanchez to make it three before Pedro rounded off a wonderful team move involving Andres Iniesta and Cesc Fabregas.
Messi got his second of the evening midway through the second-half to overtake Real Madrid legend Alfredo di Stefano as the third-highest scorer of all-time in La Liga on 228 goals.
And Neymar rounded off a perfect evening for the hosts on his return from a sprained ankle when he blasted home the sixth from long-range two minutes
