Lionel Messi extended his Spanish league scoring record to 18 straight games with a brace in Barcelona's 3-1 win over visiting Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, making sure the leader avoided a letdown after its historic Champions League comeback against AC Milan.
Messi set up David Villa to score Barcelona's opener in the 25th minute, and Villa returned the favor in the 40th for Messi to take his first goal.
Villa linked up with Messi again in the 57th as the Argentina forward used a delicate chip shot to net his league-leading 42nd goal of the season and put the result beyond doubt.
"The three goals were all similar and I am just happy to have participated in all three to give us the win," Villa said.
The victory restored Barcelona's 13-point lead over Real Madrid, with Atletico Madrid a further one back after winning 2-0 at Osasuna thanks to Diego Costa's double.
Messi scored Barcelona's first two goals in Tuesday's 4-0 win over Milan at the Nou Camp as it became the first team to overturn a 0-2 first-leg away loss in the Champions League and reached the quarterfinals.
Villa also polished off a memorable week that started with him scoring the goal that gave Barcelona the lead on aggregate against Milan.
It was Messi's 19th multi-goal game of the season. His 210th and 211th league goals took the 25-year-old past Pahino into seventh place on the career scoring list.
The four-time world player of the year scored 50 goals in the league last season to shatter a milestone that Real's Cristiano Ronaldo had left at 40 the year before. He now has 10 more games to shoot for his own mark.