Real Madrid held on to the leadership of the Primera Liga by the skin of their teeth after a dramatic, last-gasp 3-2 win over Recreativo Huelva on Sunday.
Later, Barcelona overwhelmed Atletico Madrid 6-0 at a rainsoaked Calderon, Lionel Messi starting the rout when he fired home after surging past the Atletico midfield six minutes before halftime.
Both Barcelona and Real Madrid have 69 points after 35 matches; the latter are placed higher because of having scored more victories.
Sevilla stayed in the hunt for the title with a 2-1 comeback win at Deportivo Coruna. Valencia fourth on 65 after their 1-0 win away to Real Mallorca on Saturday.
After Messi opened the account for Barcelona, Gianluca Zambrotta added a second with a fine lob and Samuel Eto'o made it 3-0 before the break, poking in after a Cuellar fumble.
Ronaldinho put the finishing touch to a gleaming passing move to make it 4-0 before the hour, Messi added a fifth with a cool chip and Andres Iniesta completed a humiliating defeat with with a sixth just before the final whistle.
Real looked as though they might lose top spot after Recre fought back from 2-0 down to level at 2-2 with five minutes to go, but Brazilian fullback Roberto Carlos snatched a vital win when he dinked home in injury time.
Real knew they had to deliver the goods after Sevilla's win at Deportivo and they made a perfect start when the unmarked Robinho headed in from six metres after David Beckham whipped in a fine curling cross from the right in the ninth minute.
The former England captain proceeded to cause the Recreativo back four a host of problems with his dangerous inswinging crosses.
Real extended their lead eight minutes into the second half when Recre keeper Bertrand Laquait brought down Robinho with an unnecessary challenge as the Brazilian raced towards the goalline.
Ruud van Nistelrooy sent Laquait the wrong way with his spot kick to take his tally for the season to 22 goals.
Recre pulled one back when Jesus Vazquez converted a penalty after substitute Ikechukwu Uche was brought down by Sergio Ramos and Real began to look a little nervous.
Uche, who ran the Real defence ragged in the final quarter, made it 2-2 when he headed in from a corner, but Real, who had snatched last-gasp wins over Espanyol and Sevilla in their previous two league outings, refused to throw in the towel.
With practically their last throw of the dice, Roberto Carlos clipped in past Laquait after Fernando Gago had put him in the clear with a clever turn and pass on the edge of the area.
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