Sam Parker rounds up the latest La Liga action, as Barca warm up for their fixtures against Arsenal and Real Madrid with a crushing win over Athletic Bilbao.

BARCA GIVE ARSENAL A GLIMPSE OF WHAT TO EXPECT

With one eye on their Champions League quarter-final with Arsenal on Tuesday and the other fixed firmly on next Saturday’s Classico with Real Madrid, Barcelona could have been forgiven for taking their eye off the ball against Athletic. Instead they produced a fantastic performance that their Basque counterparts had no answer for, crushing the fourth place contenders 4-1.

This was a team without Andres Iniesta, Zlatan Ibrahimovic – who was injured in the warm-up – the rested Xavi and the suspended Daniel Alves. But the reserves stepped up to the plate to batter a side renowned in Spain for being hard to beat.

Jeffren Suarez took advantage of a rare start to slide in at the back post to open the scoring, before Bojan helped himself to a brace, scoring either side of half-time. Lionel Messi finished the scoring for the home side with his 26th of the season to wrap up the win, although there was time for Markel Susaeta to grab a consolation for Athletic.

REAL COAST TO EASY WIN

Real Madrid produced a lack-lustre performance to beat Racing Santander 2-0. They never needed to be at their best though, as Racing barely showed up in front of their own fans.

Cristiano Ronaldo won a first-half penalty, dusted himself off and dispatched it to set Real on their way, before Gonzalo Higuain latched onto a wonderful pass from Guti to beat the offside trap and record his 24th in the league.

The score-line could have been more flattering, but Guti struck the bar and Ronaldo managed to put the ball over the bar from inside the six-yard-box. The result means Racing are now hovering directly above the relegation zone in 17th place.

ZARAGOZA IMPROVE SURVIVAL HOPES

Zaragoza moved themselves seven points clear of the drop-zone with an important 2-0 win over fellow strugglers, Malaga. Zaragoza put Malaga between themselves and the relegation places, thanks to goals from Leonardo Ponzio and the in-form Chilean, Humberto Suazo.

SEVILLA MOVE BACK INTO FOURTH

Sevilla moved back into the final Champions League qualifying position, thanks to a comfortable 3-0 win over Tenerife. Fredi Kanoute put them on their way when squeezing home from an angle, before Luis Fabiano atoned for a series of poor misses when he volleyed home a second on the stroke of half-time.

The score remained that way until the 87th minute, when Jose Carlos hammered home a free-kick to move Sevilla into fourth on the basis of the head-to-head record, whilst Tenerife are now six points from safety.

Mallorca fall to fifth now, as they could only muster a 1-1 draw away to Almeria. Uche put the home side ahead early on and it looked as though Mallorca would fall to yet another defeat away from the ONO Estadio. However, Pierre Webo popped up two minutes from time to give Mallorca a share of the spoils.

VALENCIA RECORD EASY WIN

Valencia have all but secured their place in next season’s Champions League after they thumped Osasuna 3-0 at the Mestalla to move eight points clear of Sevilla and Mallorca.

Joaquin took advantage of a rare start to bag himself a goal and remind the World Cup selectors of what he is capable of. They had to wait until stoppage time to increase their lead further, but did so thanks to David Villa’s double, the second from the penalty spot, taking him up to 20 league goals for the season.

DEPOR OUT OF FOURTH PLACE RACE, VILLARREAL IN?

Deportivo are all but out of a chance of qualifying for the Champions League after suffering another heavy defeat, this time at the hands of Atletico Madrid. Whilst only six points separate them and Sevilla, trips to Barcelona and Valencia this week should put paid to this dream, which could’ve been a lot stronger had this not been their fourth consecutive defeat in what was a friendly set of fixtures.

Atletico have looked unbeatable at home, and carried on in that fashion when Juanito swept home from close range after 22 minutes. Diego Forlan added a second after a double save from Daniel Aranzubia in the Depor goal. Ex-Chelsea man, Tiago, added the third, finishing off a fine team goal from inside the six-yard-box.

Villarreal have now jumped above Depor into seventh after they beat Valladolid 2-0. Villarreal will in truth feel they could have won even more comfortably, but had to settle for goals from Angel Lopez and Nilmar to make what looked an unlikely push for European football next season very possible. Valladolid on the other hand, look doomed.

XEREZ CLAIM ANOTHER POINT, ESPANYOL ANOTHER DRAW

Xerez are now bottom by only a point after they fought back against Sporting Gijon twice to claim a 2-2 draw. Alberto Rivera took advantage of some generous goalkeeping to give Sporting the lead before Mario Bermejo’s 9th of the season levelled things up. Miguel De Las Cuevas again put Sporting ahead, but Matias Alustiza salvaged another point for Xerez, and secure a four match unbeaten run.

In the round’s other game, Espanyol and Getafe played out a 1-1 draw. Manu gave Getafe the lead, but Dani Osvaldo ensured Espanyol picked up a rare point on their travels.