Barcelona: Barcelona extended its unbeaten run to a club-record 28 games on Sunday, strolling to a 4-1 win over Malaga to open up a four-point lead in the Spanish league after second-place Real Madrid drew 1-1 at last-place Almeria.
Andres Iniesta, David Villa and Pedro Rodriguez scored in the first half and Villa added another after the break to set the record in the 111-year history of Barcelona, which had previously gone 27 games unbeaten in the 1973-74 season.
Barcelona has 52 points, a league record for halfway through a season, breaking the mark it set two seasons ago by two points.
Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola downplayed his team's lead over Madrid.
"They (Madrid) will drop very few points in the second round," he said. "We have to take each game as a step forward."
Earlier at Juegos Mediterraneos stadium, Almeria's Jose Ulloa fired a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Iker Casillas for the 60th-minute opener.
Esteban Granero equalized for Madrid with a rising strike off a pass from fellow second-half substitute Karim Benzema in the 77th.
"The league is very open. Under normal conditions, a four-point difference is an open league," Madrid coach Jose Mourinho said.
The problem is that Barcelona is not playing like a normal team.
The Catalan club is demolishing league opponents, outscoring them 51-6 in its 13-match winning streak.
To add to Madrid's pain, its fierce rivals' 17th win at the season's midway point has broken Madrid's record from 1960-61. Barcelona is also two wins away from equaling Madrid's league record of 15 straight wins that has stood since the same season.
Malaga's starting 11 featured five of its winter signings, including forward Baptista on debut. But Barcelona showed why it is the favorite to lift a third straight league title.
Iniesta opened the scoring in the eighth minute, half-volleying the ball in off the post from a pass by Dani Alves with goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo looking on.
Alves was forced off after 24 minutes of the match and will be sidelined for between 10 and 15 days with a calf injury, Barcelona said in a statement.
Villa doubled the advantage in the 18th. Xavi Hernandez's curling shot hit the crossbar, and Villa converted after midfielder Sergio Busquets had stolen possession.
Pedro Rodriguez hit his sixth goal in four games and 10th this season, getting the rebound from Iniesta's shot in the 36th that Asenjo did well to save but could not hold.
Asenjo twice denied Lionel Messi from close range, before Sergio "Duda" Barbosa pulled one back for Malaga in the 68th with a left-footed free kick that bent over the wall and into the top corner.
Villa capped the historic win when Xavi put him through in the 74th minute to score his 14th goal of the season.
"We knew we could increase our lead after (Madrid) drew," Villa said. "But there is a long way to go."
In Madrid's match, the visitors failed to find its rhythm in attack and were limited to long-range attempts from Cristiano Ronaldo.
"Nobody thought we could do it," said Ulloa. "We controlled the game and they did not create many chances."
Kaka, who started a match for Madrid for the first time since surgery on his left knee in August, linked up with Ronaldo for Madrid's best chance in the first half. The Brazil star played Ronaldo through with a lob into the center of the Almeria defense, but goalkeeper Diego Alves reacted quickly.
Benzema replaced Kaka in the 59th, and Madrid pushed for a winner to continue its run of five straight league wins, but Almeria earned a point after Ronaldo hit the crossbar with a free kick in extra time.
"There is a long way to go and we are convinced there is time to catch Barcelona," said Granero.
Also, Jeremy Mathieu and Pablo Hernandez scored late goals to give Valencia a 2-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday to strengthen its hold on fourth place in the Spanish league.
Mathieu raced down the left flank to reach a pass from Tino Costa and shoot past goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia from a difficult angle in the 77th. Hernandez then caught the Deportivo defense pressing forward for the equalizer to score the second goal just before the final whistle, as Valencia extended its winning streak to four games.
Valencia goalkeeper Vicente Guaita saved a low shot by forward Lassad Nouioui at the 50-minute mark in Deportivo's best scoring chance.
"We have to improve our attack from the wings, but a victory lets you see things in a more positive light and you can polish your mistakes," Valencia coach Unai Emery said.
Valencia has scored late winners in its past three wins to move three points clear of fifth-place Espanyol.
Deportivo remained 13th, five points above the relegation zone.
Atletico Madrid plays Mallorca on Monday.
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