Luis Suarez and Paulinho both scored twice as Barcelona beat Deportivo to go six points clear at the top of La Liga.
Lionel Messi provided two assists but was unlucky not to be on the scoresheet himself as he hit the woodwork three times and missed a penalty.
First, Suarez tapped in Messi’s pass before Paulinho struck after the Argentine’s shot came back off the bar.
Suarez’s close-range finish made it 3-0 and Paulinho was again on hand to stab in when Jordi Alba hit the post.
Messi’s chance from the spot came just before Barcelona scored their fourth.
Suarez was fouled inside the box by Federico Valverde and, despite being on a hat-trick, he let Messi step up for the spot kick but the Argentina forward’s effort was kept out by Ruben Martinez.
The two goals for Paulinho, meanwhile, means he is on six for the season following the former Tottenham midfielder’s £36m arrival from Chinese club Guangzhou Evergrande in August.
Real Madrid were not in La Liga action at the weekend due to their involvement in the Club World Cup, which they won for a third time, equalling Barcelona’s record.
It means Barcelona are 11 points clear of Zinedine Zidane’s side ahead of Saturday’s fixture between the two sides at the Bernabeu (12:00 GMT).
