Barcelona travelled to Rayo Vallecano on Thursday looking to make it 35 games unbeaten in all competitions and knowing that another win would move them eight points clear at the top of La Liga.
First-half goals from Ivan Rakitic and Lionel Messi saw the visitors enter the break with a 2-0 lead and they also had a one-man advantage due to Diego Llorente's red card in the 42nd minute.
Manucho was on the scoresheet for the home side either side of two more goals for Messi, while Barcelona also missed a penalty in an incident that saw Manuel Iturra sent from the field.
Arda Turan got in on the act late on, however, as the Turk scored his first Barcelona goal to make it 5-1 in the 86th minute.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
© Getty Images
RAYO: Carlos; Quini, Llorente, Crespo, Tito; Iturra, Trashorras; Embarba, Piti, Bebe; Manucho
BARCA: Bravo; Roberto, Pique, Mascherano, Mathieu; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Neymar, Suarez, Messi
© Getty Images
© Getty Images
10 - Rayo Vallecano have not won against Barcelona since 2002, 1-0 in Vallecas thanks to a Azkoitia's goal (L10). Hard
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) March 3, 2016
© AFP
RAYO: Carlos; Quini, Llorente, Crespo, Tito; Iturra, Trashorras; Embarba, Piti, Bebe; Manucho
BARCA: Bravo; Roberto, Pique, Mascherano, Mathieu; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Neymar, Suarez, Messi
© Getty Images
18 - Lionel Messi has scored 18 goals in his 16 appearances for @FCBarcelona on 2016 (all competitions). Energic.
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) March 3, 2016
© Getty Images
300 - @FCBarcelona have scored 300 goals with Luis Enrique as manager (all competitions). Ode.
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) March 3, 2016