Barcelona overwhelms Atletico Madrid

Barcelona proved they are not about to give up their Primera Liga title without a fight as they hammered Atletico Madrid, 6-0, in the Vicente Calderon to keep pace with leaders Real Madrid on Sunday.

It was Barca's first win over Atletico in six attempts and put them level on 69 points with Real, who beat Recreativo Huelva, 3-2, away, but Barca remain second due to their inferior head-to-head record with three games left.

Barca were set on their way to stunning victory with three goals in the last six minutes of the first half from Lionel Messi, Gianluca Zambrotta and Samuel Eto'o.

With Atletico in tatters, Ronaldinho struck a fourth in the 58th minute, Messi added a fifth five minutes from time, and Andres Iniesta completed the rout at the end.

A shambolic Atletico, who remain sixth in the UEFA Cup places, finished with 10 men after Brazilian defender Fabiano Eller was sent off for his second yellow in the 72nd minute.

Real's win was something of a let off and was made possible when veteran Brazilian Roberto Carlos struck a stoppage-time winner to lift Real Madrid back to the top of the table in Spain and rescue a match they appeared to have thrown away.

Robinho's first-half strike, from David Beckham's cross, and a Ruud van Nistelrooy penalty had put the visitors in control, but Antonio Jesus Vazquez's spot-kick and a goal from substitute Ikechukwu Uche looked to have salvaged a point for Recreativo before Roberto Carlos' timely contribution.

The victory briefly moved Madrid three points ahead of Barca and maintains the hopes of former England captain Beckham claiming some silverware before leaving Madrid to join Los Angeles Galaxy this summer.