Real Madrid kept up the pressure at the top of the table, while third-placed Sevilla slumped to a surprise home defeat.
Real Madrid moved to within two points of Barcelona at the top with a 6-0 thumping of Real Zaragoza.
Manuel Pellegrini's side took a third minute lead via Gonzalo Higuain before Rafael Van der Vaart hit a quick-fire brace (26, 28).
Higuain added his second (35) before second half goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and substitute Karim Benzema sealed the emphatic victory over the visitors, who remain in the drop zone.
Third-placed Sevilla slipped further off the title pace as their poor recent home form continued with a surprising defeat 2-1 at home to Getafe.
Manolo Jimenez's side had failed to win either of their previous two league matches at the Sanchez Pizjuan, drawing disappointingly against Valladolid and Malaga.
And they found themselves two goals down inside 33 minutes, with former Real Madrid striker Roberto Soldado grabbing both goals.
Alvaro Negredo - another ex-Madrid man - pulled one back at the start of the second half, but the hosts were unable to find a way back into the game.
Athletic Bilbao moved up to sixth in the table with 2-0 victory over Osasuna courtesy of early goals from Francisco Yeste (1) and Fernando Llorente (12).
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