Gritty Barcelona stay ahead of Real

Three days after Real's 1-0 extra-time victory over Barca in the King's Cup final, also at the Mestalla stadium, the Madrid side rested a number of first-team regulars but still proved too strong for their third-placed hosts Valencia.

Higuain rattled in three goals and Kaka grabbed a double after Karim Benzema had opened the scoring as Valencia were torn apart by the pace of Real's counter-attacks.
Home striker Roberto Soldado made it 5-1 after an hour and, as Real eased up, Valencia's Jonas and Jordi Alba grabbed late goals to make the scoreline slightly more respectable. Barca also fielded a changed side but laboured past relegation-threatened Osasuna with a first-half goal from David Villa and a late strike from substitute Lionel Messi.

Pep Guardiola's side moved a step closer to their third consecutive La Liga title and have 88 points with five games left, while Real climb to 80 and Valencia stay on 63.
Athletic Bilbao climbed to 51 points in fifth with a 2-1 derby win at home to Basque rivals Real Sociedad that came courtesy of first-half goals from Iker Muniain and Gaizka Toquero. "The victory was very important," Barca's Villa told Spanish television after ending an 11-match goal drought. "It was very difficult, especially the mental and physical tiredness from the other day, but it's three points more, one game less and the eight-point lead is maintained."

Mourinho had one eye on next Wednesday's Champions League semifinal first leg against Barcelona when he left Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso and Pepe on the bench, but it hardly made any difference in Valencia.

Benzema, who had already hit the crossbar, slotted the ball inside the near post after goalkeeper Vicente Guaita misjudged a low cross in the 23rd minute.

Argentine Higuain pounced on a defensive misunderstanding to sneak their second goal, and then set up Kaka for the third after yet another counter-attack in the 38th.

Kaka pulled the ball back for Higuain to complete his hat-trick in the 53rd while Soldado's nicely-taken goal, his eighth in four matches, was only a brief respite for the home side. Barca fielded a changed team -- with Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta among those on the bench while Gerard Pique and Carlos Puyol were in the stands -- and lacked their usual fluidity.

Jeffren broke down the left and crossed for Villa to put Barca ahead in the 24th minute.
Osasuna were denied an equaliser just before the break when Victor Valdes scrambled a shot on to the post and Barca then dominated without threatening until Messi slipped home the decider at the end for his 31st of the league campaign.