Cristiano Ronaldo delays Barca's celebrations

Real Madrid delayed Barcelona's Spanish title celebrations on Saturday with a 6-2 romp at pathetic Sevilla, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring four goals.
The easy win confirms once more the massive gap between the Big Two and the rest in La Liga, and means Barca will have to wait until Wednesday at least to
 clinch their third straight title.

Barca are now five points ahead of Real and need four points from their last four games to seal the title. On Sunday they host crosstown rivals Espanyol.

Real defender Sergio Ramos said, "This was an enjoyable night for us, everything went right for us."

Real shook off their Champions League blues and tore into the chaotic Sevilla defence right from the start. Sergio Ramos, Ronaldo and Kaka scored in a first-half exhibition.

Alvaro Negredo pulled a goal back for Sevilla, but the hosts left dangerous gaps at the back, which Ronaldo brutally exploited. The Portuguese hitman now has 33 league goals to his name, two more than Barca idol Lionel Messi.

Negredo pulled back a second goal for Sevilla, but the hosts' appalling defence had already given away the match.

Earlier on Sunday, Valencia had strengthened their grip on third place with a 3-0 home defeat of lowly Real Sociedad.

Roberto Soldado was the two-goal hero in Mestalla. Brazilian striker Jonas put away the third goal.

Valencia coach Unai Emery said: "Today has been a day of satisfaction for all of us, after our recent problems, for the fans and players."

The comfortable win leaves Los Ches with 66 points from 35 games, 17 fewer than Real but six more than fourth-place Villarreal, who were due to face Mallorca on Sunday.

The third-placed team will have direct access to the Champions League next season, while the fourth team will have to go into the qualifying round.

Villarreal, in turn, are six points ahead of Athletic Bilbao, who moved up to fifth with a 3-2 home defeat of Levante. Gaizka Toquero, Fernando Llorente and David Lopez scored for the Basques, Christian Stuani and Nano pulled back late goals for Levante.

Bilbao are now two points ahead of Atletico Madrid and Sevilla.

Atletico surprisingly crashed 3-0 at home to Malaga, a result which lifts the southerners well above the relegation zone.

Jose Rondon gave Malaga the lead by heading in a centre from Jesus Gamez, Julio Baptista made it 2-0 after a good centre from Seba Fernandez. Enzo Maresca completed the rout at the end by turning in the rebound after a shot from Baptista had been saved.

Two other teams that managed to lift themselves above the danger zone on Saturday are Getafe and Racing Santander.

Getafe beat Almeria 2-0 on goals from Adrian Colunga and Pedro Rios, a result which mathematically relegates the southerners.

Santander won 3-2 at Hercules, who now seem destined to go down with Almeria.

Giovani, on loan from Tottenham, scored twice for Santander, while fellow Brazilian Henrique got the other goal. Hercules were crippled by the sending off of striker Nelson Valdez.

Deportivo Coruna, in contrast, had to settle for a 2-2 draw away to Sporting Gijon.

Relegated Almeria have just 26 points. Then come Hercules on 33, Osasuna on 38, then Deportivo and Zaragoza on 39. Getafe now have 40, Real Sociedad have 41.