Madrid, Jan. 22 (IANS): FC Barcelona opened up an 11 point lead at the top of La Liga as the football season moves into its second half.
The Catalan side bounced back from their first defeat in 30 games in midweek, with a stunning second half performance away to Real Betis on Sunday, reports Xinhua news agency.
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez both scored a brace and Ivan Rakitic also added his name to the score sheet as Barcelona romped to a 5-0 win.
Messi produced another stunning display to ensure that any rumours of a crisis in Barcelona are silenced.
Real Madrid returned to winning ways with a 7-1 demolition of Deportivo La Coruna. Deportivo opened the scoring through Adrian Gonzalez but soon folded under a Madrid onslaught led by Gareth Bale.
Madrid, who lost their last two home games, would not have been pleased to be one goal behind early in the contest.
However, Madrid fans would soon breathe easy, after Nacho equalized in the first half and Bale put Madrid ahead after the break.
Deportivo have the second worst defensive record in La Liga and fell apart after the break as Bale and Nacho scored again. Luka Modric added another and Cristiano Ronaldo contributed two late goals to put a spring back into Madrid's step.
