MADRID, May 2 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona took a major step towards the La Liga title in emphatic style with an 8-0 win away to Cordoba on Saturday, a result which also means that Cordoba are mathematically relegated to the second division next season.
Knowing a win would give his side a temporary 5 point cushion over Real Madrid, Barca coach, Luis Enrique fielded what is arguably his strongest starting 11 with Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez leading the attack and Andres Iniesta and Jordi Alba back in the side.
Despite playing their strongest 11 and controlling nearly all of the ball, Barca struggled to open the scoring after Neymar and Messi went close in the first five minutes.
With Cordoba packing their penalty box and looking to limit spaces for Barca's attack Juan Carlos was only forced into a couple of saves before a moment of magic from Messi set up Ivan Rakitic to volley home the first goal of the match, three minutes before the break.
Suarez then made it 2-0 with the last action of the half as he nipped in front of the defense to score from close range after an Andres Iniesta cross.
If the first half had been tight, the second was one way traffic after Messi assured the win with Barca's third of the match in the 46th minute. Dani Alves was allowed to find space down the right and his cross was met by the onrushing Argentinean to nod home his 50th goal of the season.
Alves repeated his trick in the 53rd minute and this time it was Suarez who produced a neat header to send the ball in off the post and make the score 4-0.
With Cordoba groggy Gerard Pique headed the fifth of the afternoon in the 65th minute and with the game lowered to the speed of an exhibition, Pedro's piece of skill helped Messi score his second of the game and Barca's sixth, before a Neymar penalty added Barca's seventh and a series of rebounds left Suarez with a simple chance to complete his hat-trick.