Spanish champions Barcelona maintained their eight- point lead over Real Madrid on Saturday with a 3-1 comeback home defeat of bottom team Almeria, in which FIFA World Player Lionel Messi scored twice.
This means that Barca will go to Madrid for the April 16 Clasico with an eight point lead - and with their third straight Liga title practically guaranteed.
Earlier on Saturday, Real had enjoyed a pleasant 3-0 win away to sixth-placed Athletic Bilbao, with fit-again Kaka converting two penalties.
Barca failed to break down a well-drilled Almeria defence in the first half.
Four minutes after the interval, Barca striker David Villa hit the post with a low shot. Without the ball going out of play, Almeria broke quickly and Pablo Piatti fed Corona to give the visitors a shock lead with a clam left-foot finish.
Just two minutes later Barca were given a disputed penalty for an alleged foul by keeper Diego Alves on Villa, who seemed to have exaggerated the contact. Messi calmly made it 1-1 from the spot.
In the 64th minute Messi sent over a thoughtful corner and teenage sensation Thiago made it 2-1 with a deft header - despite being the smallest player on the field.
In injury time Messi took advantage of a blunder from Almeria defender Marcelo Silva to make it 3-1 with his trusty left foot. The little Argentine is now one goal ahead of Real's Cristiano Ronaldo in the scorers' chart, 29 to 28.
Barca coach Pep Guardiola said: "In general, I'm quite happy with today's game. This is how we should play from now on until the end of the season."
The only bad news for Barca was a knee injury to young striker Bojan, who will be out for the rest of the season.
Earlier on Saturday, Real had enjoyed their easiest win in old San Mames since 1996.
Aitor Karanka, Mourinho's assistant, said afterwards: "It was a more important game than it looked beforehand. Kaka has turned in an impressive display. The entire team was good, and achieved an excellent result."
Real took the lead in Bilbao in the 14th minute when Kaka made it 1-0 from the penalty spot after Bilbao keeper Gorka Iraaizoz had pulled down the rapid Angel Di Maria.
The Basques came close to equalizing at the end of the first half, but Di Maria won a second penalty for Real in the 53rd minute, when he was clumsily pulled down by Xabi Castillo.
Twenty minutes from time Ronaldo made it 3-0 with a powerful low drive, following a swift break engineered by Esteban Granero.
In Sunday's late game, Mallorca and Sevilla played out a frenetic 2-2 draw. Akihiro Ienaga and Jonathan de Guzman scored for Mallorca, Alvaro Negredo and Ivan Rakitic replied for Sevilla.
The draw leaves Sevilla in fifth place, one point above Bilbao.
This means that Barca will go to Madrid for the April 16 Clasico with an eight point lead - and with their third straight Liga title practically guaranteed.
Earlier on Saturday, Real had enjoyed a pleasant 3-0 win away to sixth-placed Athletic Bilbao, with fit-again Kaka converting two penalties.
Barca failed to break down a well-drilled Almeria defence in the first half.
Four minutes after the interval, Barca striker David Villa hit the post with a low shot. Without the ball going out of play, Almeria broke quickly and Pablo Piatti fed Corona to give the visitors a shock lead with a clam left-foot finish.
Just two minutes later Barca were given a disputed penalty for an alleged foul by keeper Diego Alves on Villa, who seemed to have exaggerated the contact. Messi calmly made it 1-1 from the spot.
In the 64th minute Messi sent over a thoughtful corner and teenage sensation Thiago made it 2-1 with a deft header - despite being the smallest player on the field.
In injury time Messi took advantage of a blunder from Almeria defender Marcelo Silva to make it 3-1 with his trusty left foot. The little Argentine is now one goal ahead of Real's Cristiano Ronaldo in the scorers' chart, 29 to 28.
Barca coach Pep Guardiola said: "In general, I'm quite happy with today's game. This is how we should play from now on until the end of the season."
The only bad news for Barca was a knee injury to young striker Bojan, who will be out for the rest of the season.
Earlier on Saturday, Real had enjoyed their easiest win in old San Mames since 1996.
Aitor Karanka, Mourinho's assistant, said afterwards: "It was a more important game than it looked beforehand. Kaka has turned in an impressive display. The entire team was good, and achieved an excellent result."
Real took the lead in Bilbao in the 14th minute when Kaka made it 1-0 from the penalty spot after Bilbao keeper Gorka Iraaizoz had pulled down the rapid Angel Di Maria.
The Basques came close to equalizing at the end of the first half, but Di Maria won a second penalty for Real in the 53rd minute, when he was clumsily pulled down by Xabi Castillo.
Twenty minutes from time Ronaldo made it 3-0 with a powerful low drive, following a swift break engineered by Esteban Granero.
In Sunday's late game, Mallorca and Sevilla played out a frenetic 2-2 draw. Akihiro Ienaga and Jonathan de Guzman scored for Mallorca, Alvaro Negredo and Ivan Rakitic replied for Sevilla.
The draw leaves Sevilla in fifth place, one point above Bilbao.
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