Barca go six clear of Real

Bojan, Pedro and Yaya Toure on target as champions increase lead in Spanish title race.

Bojan
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Pedro scored a spectacular goal [AFP]

Barcelona followed up their impressive win over Real Madrid five nights ago with a convincing 3-0 home win over Deportivo La Coruna to go six points clear of Real at the Spanish Primera Division summit.

After scoring against Real, winger Pedro Rodriguez was on the scoresheet again with a fantastic second half strike from 45 yards out in the pick of the goals after Bojan Krkic had opened the scoring on the quarter hour mark.

Yaya Toure netted the other goal in a comfortable night for the champions.

It was a seventh successive league win for Barca although Real Madrid can close back to within three points with a win at Almeria on Thursday.

Champions League hopefuls Real Mallorca moved a point above Sevilla into fourth with a 1-1 draw at Real Zaragoza on Wednesday although the islanders will see it as a missed opportunity to turn the screw on their rivals.

Dismal form

Sevilla lost 2-1 at Valladolid on Tuesday but Mallorca, surprise challengers for the top four, could not punish the slip-up as their dismal away form continues to hinder their push for fourth.

Results & fixtures

Tuesday April 13

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Getafe 3-0 Villarreal
undefined Valladolid 2-1 Sevilla
undefined Gijon 0-2 Tenerife

Wednesday April 14

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Atl Madrid 1-2 Xerez
undefined Barcelona 3-0 Deportivo
undefined Osasuna 2-2 Malaga
undefined Santander 3-1 Espanyol
undefined Zaragoza 1-1 Mallorca

Thursday April 15

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Almeria v Real Madrid
undefined Valencia v Athl Bilbao

Defender Ruben Rocha put Mallorca into a 13th minute lead but Chilean Humberto Suazo equalised with a fine solo goal on 21 minutes.

Mallorca have just two wins on their travels all season – the same as bottom side Xerez – compared to 13 victories from 15 games
at home.

Promoted Zaragoza are four points above the bottom three and are one of six teams trying to stay in the top-flight.

Malaga are one of those and twice came from behind to draw 2-2 at Osasuna on Wednesday as they hover three points above the drop
zone.

Uruguayan striker Walter Pandiani put Osasuna ahead twice in the 10th and 48th minutes but Malaga fought back with Salvador Caicedo and Nabil Baha on target.

Malaga lie three points above Tenerife and four ahead of Valladolid who both won on Tuesday to close in.

Bottom side Xerez have clearly not waved the white flag in the relegation dog-fight stunning Atletico Madrid with a 2-1 win at the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday.

Mario Bermejo headed Xerez into a surprise ninth minute lead but it lasted barely three minutes as Uruguayan forward Diego Forlan equalised with his 17th league goal of the season.

However, Emiliano Armenteros had a free header to bag the winner on 72 minutes for only their second away win of the season.

Xerez are six points from safety with six games left while Atletico are eight points off the top six although they have a Copa del Rey final and Europa League semi-final to look forward to.

Elsewhere Racing Santander took a giant stride towards safety with a 3-1 home victory over Espanyol to move six points clear of the relegation zone.

Source: AFP