Barcelona took another step towards the Primera Liga title as they put six goals past Malaga without reply at the Nou Camp.
The Catalans had seen title rivals Real Madrid temporarily cut their lead at the top of the table to three points following their 3-0 win at home to Almeria earlier today, but they responded with a brilliant performance to thrash in-form Malaga and move six clear once again.
Pep Guardiola's side tore the visitors apart with a fantastic display of attacking football in the first half and stormed into a four-goal lead at the break.
Xavi opened the scoring after 19 minutes and Lionel Messi doubled their lead with a stunning second halfway through the first period.
Thierry Henry then made it three just after the half-hour mark and Samuel Eto'o gave the Catalans an unassailable four-goal lead just before the break.
Dani Alves got in on the act shortly after the restart and Eto'o added a sixth as Barcelona ran riot.
Guardiola had warned his side against complacency before the game and highlighted the danger of an in-form Malaga outfit.
The Andalusians began the season with the sole aim of avoiding relegation on their return to the top-flight, but started the day in sixth place following a hugely successful campaign to date.
Few sides get much change at the Nou Camp, though, and Barcelona quickly took control of the game.
Henry headed just wide after 14 minutes as the home side signaled their intentions from the outset.
Martin Caceres, given a rare start at centre-back due to the absence of Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique and Gabi Milito, then headed over from a corner three minutes later.
The breakthrough looked just around the corner and duly arrived after 19 minutes, when Xavi latched onto Eto'o's pass from deep and beat Inaki Goitia in the one-on-one.
And one became two five minutes later.
Messi controlled the ball with his chest on the wing, ghosted past Helder and into the area before beating Goitia with an unstoppable right-footed drive.
It was a moment of sheer class and the Nou Camp rose to acclaim their idol.
And the Barca fans were on their feet again after 32 minutes when Henry latched onto Xavi's pass, rounded Goitia and rolled the ball into the empty net.
The contest was all but over now, but Barcelona were just getting started and Eto'o - who is never content until he is on the scoresheet - added a fourth just before the break.
The Cameroon striker ended a flowing team move by sliding a low shot through Goitia's legs and into the net, with the ubiquitous Xavi once again providing the assist.
Messi and Henry had missed good chances just before that - and Barcelona were unplayable now.
The break brought a short respite for Malaga, but Barca picked up where they left off after the interval.
Alves headed a fifth six minutes into the second period following Andres Iniesta's glorious pass and Eto'o bagged his second with a simple finish after Goitia could only parry Sylvinho's blistering shot and Henry laid the ball off unselfishly to the African.
There were still 34 minutes left, but with the game already over as a contest, Barcelona took their foot off the pedal in the final stages and cruised home with ease.
On a sour note for the league leaders, the team's entire midfield trio of Xavi, Iniesta and Yaya Toure were all forced off with potentially nasty injuries and the club will hope they are not seriously hurt ahead of important matches in three competitions as the season reaches its business end.
