Real edge towards title, Barça bounce back

Real Madrid stayed on course for their first La Liga title in four years as they cantered to a 3-0 win over Sevilla. But Barcelona's 7-0 win at Rayo Vallecano in the late kick-off means the title race will run at least into midweek, with Real Madrid still seven points clear of their arch-rivals with three games remaining.

Real will officially be crowned Spanish champions for the 32nd time if they defeat Athletic Bilbao in Wednesday's 36th round of fixtures, regardless of the result of Barça's game against Malaga.

Real certainly looked in the mood to get the job done against Sevilla today, even more so given the pain of their UEFA Champions League exit to Bayern Munich in midweek, and took the lead after 19 minutes as Cristiano Ronaldo slotted home his 57th goal of the season.

Sevilla then enjoyed a decent spell and passed up two glorious opportunities to equalise as Jesus Navas and Alvaro Negredo both fired over when one-on-one with Iker Casillas. Any nerves among the hosts were settled quickly after the break, though as Karim Benzema scored twice at the back post.

Barça thrash Rayo
Barcelona, meanwhile, took their frustrations out on poor Rayo after a dismal week that began with a damaging loss to Real Madrid, saw them exit the Champions League against Chelsea, and then receive the shock news that coach Pep Guardiola would stand down at the end of the season.

Lionel Messi started and finished the scoring for the wounded Catalans, with Barça's other goals coming from a Pedro Rodriguez brace, Seydou Keita, Thiago and a Robert own goal.

Malaga moved level with Valencia in third as Nacho Camacho's first-half header secured a 1-0 win at La Rosaleda. Camacho netted the only goal with a towering header from Jesus Gamez's cross just before the half-hour mark. Things got even worse for Valencia when Sofiane Feghouli was dismissed for a second bookable offence just after the hour.

Atletico draw Betis
Radamel Falcao struck a stoppage-time equaliser to salvage a point for Atletico Madrid in a 2-2 draw at Real Betis.

Atletico took a 63rd-minute lead through substitute Jorge Koke, but Betis looked to have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when their own replacements Alejandro Pozuelo (86) and Jonathan Pereira (88) netted in quick succession to put the hosts 2-1 up. However, there was to be another late twist in the tale when, from a corner four minutes into injury time, Falcao headed home from close range to level the game up.

In the day's other game, Real Zaragoza kept alive their chances of survival with a deserved 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao thanks to goals in either half from Edu Oriol and Apono.