Brilliant Barca thrash Real 6-2 to move closer to title

Thierry Henry and Lionel Messi each scored twice as Barcelona recovered from a goal down to thrash Real Madrid 6-2 on Saturday and extend their lead over the champions at the top of the Primera Liga to seven points.

Henry, Carles Puyol and Messi all found the net in the first half following Gonzalo Higuain’s 14th minute opener and Henry, Messi and Gerard Pique struck again in the second period after Sergio Ramos had made it 3-2 shortly after the break.

Defeat brings an end to Real’s 18-match unbeaten run—17 wins and a draw—since they lost 2-0 to Barca at the Nou Camp in December and puts Pep Guardiola’s side a step closer to a first title in three years.

With only four matches left, Real’s bid for a third straight title triumph looks to be over.

Barca top the table on 85 points from 34 matches with Real on 78 and Sevilla, who play at fifth-placed Villarreal later on Sunday, a distant third on 57.