Barcelona, Spain (SportsNetwork.com) - Despite missing several key players on Saturday, Barcelona shook it off and routed 10-mam Granada by a 4-0 score line at the Camp Nou.
Coming off a 4-1 victory over Real Betis on Nov 10. the defending champs entered Saturday's clash missing Xavi due to a nagging hamstring problem, Lionel Messi with a hamstring tear, goalkeeper Victor Valdes as well as Christian Tello and Jordi Alba.
The Catalans had the better of the play and opened the scoring 20 minutes into proceedings when Andres Iniesta converted a penalty kick and Cesc Fabregas gave the hosts a two-goal lead 20 minutes later with another penalty conversion.
Down two goals at the break, things became even more difficult for Granada as Manuel Iturra was shown a straight red card, reducing the traveling club to 10 men in the 66th minute,
Barca took advantage of having the extra man as Alexis Sanchez made it a 3-0 game with a goal in the 71st minute and Pedro completed the rout with a tally in stoppage time.
The result sends Barcelona three points clear of second-place Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga, while Granada drops to 10th place on 17 points.
Real Madrid 5, Almeria 0
Almeria, Spain - Five different players found the back of the net on Saturday as Real Madrid rolled to a 5-0 thrashing of La Liga newcomers Almeria at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos.
Los Blancos wasted no time finding the score sheet on Saturday as Cristiano Ronaldo fired the club in front after just three minutes. The lead held going into the intermission and Real took control of the match with four second-half goals.
Just past the hour mark Real went 2-0 in front after Karim Benzema fired it home and former Tottenham man Gareth Bale made it a 3-0 Madrd lead in the 72nd minute.
Three minutes later Isco powered home his fifth goal in league play and youngster Alvaro Morata completed the rout with a goal nine minutes from time.
Atletico Madrid 7, Getafe 0
Madrid, Spain - David Villa and Raul Garcia both scored a pair of goals on Saturday as Atletico Madrid rolled to a 7-0 drubbing of Getafe at the Vicente Calderon.
Atletico got started quickly as Garcia struck first in the 26th minute and it was 2-0 for the hosts when the ball deflected off Getafe's Alberto Lopo for an own goal in the 37th minute.
After the interval, Villa got into the scoring mood with a goal in the 49th minute and Garcia completed his double three minutes later. Diego Costa fired one home in the 69th minute and Villa finished his brace 12 minutes from time. Adrian finished the rout with a goal in stoppage time for Atletico.
The result sees Atletico climb to second place on 37 points, three behind Barcelona, while Getafe falls to seventh on 20 points.
Real Sociedad 4, Celta Vigo 3
San Sebastian, Spain - Carlos Vela bagged four goals on Saturday as Real Sociedad held on for a wild 4-3 victory over Celta Vigo at the Anoeta.
Vela started his scoring barrage six minutes into the match, but it was answered by a goal from Rafinha in the 23rd minute. Celta Vigo seized control of the match after Alex Lopez scored in the 28th minute and Rafinha completed a brace in the 56th minute to give the club a 3-1 lead.
But Vela would have the last laugh as his second goal came just past the hour mark and he completed his hat trick in the 78th minute to pull Sociedad level at 3-3.
Vela then bagged the winner nine minutes from time as Sociedad escaped with a crucial three points to climb to sixth place in the table with 20 points, while Celta Vigo remains in 16th place on 12 points.
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