MADRID, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona produced one of their best performances in recent weeks to defeat Girona 6-1 in the Camp Nou Stadium in a game in which Luis Suarez and Leo Messi again demonstrated they are currently the most effective strike partnership in the world.
Girona were brave on their first visit to the Camp Nou and opened the scoring in just the third minute thanks to Portu taking advantage of an error from Samuel Umtiti, but the lead lasted for just a minute when Leo Messi set up Luis Suarez for his first goal of the night.
Messi then added two of his own; one of which came after an incredible run, and the second from a low free kick which went under the defensive wall.
Barca led 4-1 at halftime after Suarez scored his second of the game and in the second half Coutinho scored his first league goal with a long range shot, before Suarez finished his hat-trick following a pass from Ousmane Dembele to round off a perfect night.
The win means Barca retain their seven point lead over second place Atletico Madrid who crushed Sevilla 5-1 thanks partly to an Antoine Griezmann hat-trick, in the Sanchez Pizjuan stadium.
Diego Costa opened the scoring and Griezmann doubled Atletico' s lead before half time as Atletico dominated the side from the south of Spain.
Griezmann added a second from the penalty spot early in the second half, before Koke made it 4-0 and Griezmann finished his hat-trick from inside the box with 10 minutes remaining, before Sarabia and Nolito scored late consolation goals for the home side.
Saturday saw Real Madrid continue their positive run of form with Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema all scoring and contributing to a 4-0 win at home to Alaves.
Alaves defended well and had chances of their own, but Madrid took control with goals either side of halftime.
First Ronaldo scored from inside the area with a left foot shot after being assisted by Benzema in the 44th minute and Benzema then teed up Bale straight after the kick off following a defensive error.
Lucas Vazquez set up Ronaldo for the third and Benzema scored a late penalty after Bale had been brought down in the Alaves area.
Valencia remain comfortable in fourth with a 2-1 win over Real Sociedad thanks to two goals from Santi Mina either side of halftime. Mikel Oyarzabal scored for the visitors, who were knocked out of the Europa League on Thursday.
Villarreal goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo was the hero as he saved penalties from Angel Rodriguez and Jorge Molina to mean Enes Unal's third minute goal gave their side to a 1-0 win at home to Getafe and moves them up to fifth place
Athletic Club Bilbao defeated Malaga 2-1 with goals from Markel Susaeta and Mikel San Jose, but had goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga to thank for saving a second half penalty from Youssef En Nesyri.
Celta Vigo are knocking on the door of a place in Europe after second half goals from Iago Aspas and Maxi Gomez gave them a 2-0 win over Eibar, who had been the better side in the first half, but failed to take their chances.
Meanwhile Leganes and Las Palmas drew 0-0 in a result which ends Leganes' run of four consecutive defeats, but leaves Las Palmas in the relegation zone.
