MADRID: Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez were on scintillating form as leaders Barcelona made light of the absence of injured Lionel Messi with a 5-0 win at home to Real Mallorca on Saturday.
The victory, with Fabregas netting a hat-trick and Alexis scoring twice, restored Barca’s 13-point advantage over Real Madrid at the top after their arch rivals had thumped Levante 5-1.
It included the emotional return of defender Eric Abidal a year after he underwent a liver transplant.
Coach Tito Vilanova was also back on the Nou Camp for the first time since he returned from cancer treatment in New York.
It is still not clear if Messi, who damaged a hamstring in last week’s 2-2 first-leg draw in Paris, will be available to face PSG.
Fabregas and Alexis combined superbly to see off Mallorca, who will end the weekend at the bottom of the table.
Fabregas played a one-two with Alexis and slotted past goalkeeper Dudu Aouate to open the scoring in the 20th minute.
Alexis followed up to net the rebound from a Fabregas shot two minutes later and another one-two between the pair led to a second for Fabregas in the 37th minute.
Alexis completed his double two minutes after that when Fabregas clipped a pass over the Mallorca defence and the Chilean poked the ball into the corner.
Fabregas scored his third in the first minute of the second half when he ran on to an Andres Iniesta pass.
Gonzalo Higuain, Kaka and substitutes Cristiano Ronaldo and Mesut Ozil were all on the scoresheet for Real in their comeback win at home to Levante.
Mid-table Levante took a surprise lead in the 31st minute when Michel finished off a swift attack before Higuain levelled with an acrobatic volley five minutes later.
Kaka put Real ahead from the penalty spot in the 38th minute after a handball and Ronaldo volleyed into the net from close range and set up Ozil for Real’s fourth.
Ozil stroked in Real’s fifth in added time as the champions moved on to 65 points from 30 matches, four ahead of third-placed Atletico Madrid.
Real Sociedad took advantage of Malaga’s European hangover and strengthened their grip on fourth with a 4-2 home win.
Malaga gave several top performers a break ahead of Tuesday’s return Champions League game against Borussia Dortmund.
Deportivo La Coruna secured a 3-2 home win against Zaragoza. (Reuters)