Barcelona moved four points clear of Real Madrid at the top of La Liga as a double from Lionel Messi eased them to a 2-0 win at Eibar on Saturday.
The Argentine overcame his recent penalty yips to open the scoring from the spot and then headed in his side’s second from Ivan Rakitic’s corner.
Madrid have the chance to reduce the gap back to a point, ahead of next weekend’s clasico between the sides, when they face Levante on Sunday.
Champions Atletico Madrid are now nine points off the top, though, as they had Miranda sent off in a 0-0 draw at Espanyol.
Barca manager Luis Enrique made seven changes with Wednesday’s meeting with Manchester City in the Uefa Champions League, as well as the clasico, in mind.
He said his side are primed for the coming challenges.
“We arrive at the clasico as leaders and in a perfect state. I don’t consider this to be the most important week but a great week. It will decide if we can get to the quarters or not of the Champions League because City have a lot of quality.”
It took the Catalan club half an hour to break down Eibar’s well-organised defence with a sweeping move that led to Borja Ekiza handling a shot from Messi.
The four-time World Player of the Year had missed five of his last 11 penalties for club and country, but made no mistake from the spot as he thumped the ball home.
Barca could have been further ahead at the break as Luis Suarez fired just off target from Rakitic’s chested pass. Neymar was denied from a narrow angle by Jaime Jimenez after a fine through ball by Messi.
Messi put the game beyond any doubt in unusual circumstances as he was left free inside the area to head Rakitic’s cross into the far corner and move two goals clear of Cristiano Ronaldo, 32-30, in the fight to be La Liga’s top scorer.
Enrique then replaced Neymar and Rakitic with Pedro and Xavi, the latter making his 750th appearance for the club.
Eibar came closest to scoring in the final minutes as Federico Piovaccari hit the bar in stoppage time.
Atletico remain fourth, a point behind Valencia, as they settled for a scoreless draw at Espanyol after Miranda saw red in first-half stoppage time for an elbow on Abraham.
Despite being a man short, Atletico still created the better chances after the break and were unlucky when referee Inaki Vicandi Garrido ruled out Antoine Griezmann’s sweetly struck volley from Diego Godin’s knock down for an apparent push by the Uruguayan.
Raul Garcia had the best chance of the match 12 minutes from time when he was played in by Griezmann, but Kiko Casilla made a fine save low to his right to deny the Spanish international.
Atletico’s attention now turns to overcoming a 1-0 first-leg deficit when they host Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday.
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