Brilliant Barcelona turn on the style yet again

David Villa, Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Pedro scored the goals for Barca, who were in the driving seat from start to finish as usual enjoying 75-percent possession. And this despite playmaker Xavi being rested.

It was Barca's 12th consecutive league win. They have won all nine of their away matches, creating a new Spanish record. They have 49 points from 18 games, five more than second-placed Real Madrid, who are at home to third-placed Villarreal Sunday. Villa said: "We are on a good run have but we have to continue like this. There is still a long way to go."

The Spain striker began the rout in the 27th minute. Messi set him up with an exquisite pass and Villa scored with a clever low shot that entered between the legs of Deportivo keeper Daniel Aranzubia.

Messi made it 2-0 seven minutes into the second half with an inch-perfect free-kick, which left Aranzubia rooted to the spot. It was Messi's 18th league goal and leaves him just one behind Liga top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo of Real.

Twelve minutes from time Iniesta scored the third with a left-foot drive that surprised Aranzubia. Then Pedro took an exquisite Messi pass and made it 4-0 with a calm left-foot chip.

Earlier Saturday, Sevilla had come from behind to win 3-2 away to real Sociedad, with Frederic Kanoute their two-goal hero. It was Sevilla's second consecutive win and confirms their emergence from a horrible run of form.

They are now ninth - with 26 points from 18 games - while Real Sociedad slip down to 11th. Midfielder Diego Rivas gave Sociedad an early lead with a long shot, only for Kanoute to quickly level for Sevilla with a crisp volley after Luis Fabiano had headed on a corner from Diego Perotti.

Joseba Llorente restored Sociedad's lead two minutes before half-time after being set up by Daniel Estrada. But Sevilla dominated the second half, and turned the score around with two goals within two minutes. Luis Fabiano made it 2-2 in the 63rd minute after another Perotti corner had created more confusion in the shaky home defence.

And just two minutes later Kanoute netted the winner after a fast break engineered by Alvaro Negredo. Sevilla coach Gregorio Manzano said: "Kanoute was outstanding today. He has many qualities and he is capable of marvellous things."

Saturday's early game was a 1-1 draw between new-look Malaga and defiant Athletic Bilbao. Debutant Martin Demichelis, one of Malaga's many winter signings, gave the hosts the lead with 10 minutes left by heading in a near-post corner from Portuguese midfielder Duda.

The Argentine defender was one of four new signings making their debut for Malaga, who have spent more heavily in the January transfer market than any other European club.

A tight win seemed in the cards for Malaga, but, three minutes into injury time, Bilbao veteran Igor Gabilondo played a speculative free-kick into the Malaga area - and World Cup reserve Javi Martinez made it 1-1 with a surprising back-header.

The hosts had dominated from start to finish against a Bilbao side hung over after Wednesday's King's Cup elimination against Barcelona. The visitors created little danger for new Malaga keeper Sergio Asenjo, until Martinez levelled right at the death.

Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini said: "I cannot be happy with this result, though we did play a good match. We had enough chances to win, and should have done so."

The disappointing draw keeps Malaga fifth from bottom, with 17 points from 18 games. Bilbao, for their part, are eighth with 26 points.