Match ends, Rayo Vallecano 1, Barcelona 5.
Rayo VallecanoRayo Vallecano1BarcelonaBarcelona5
Barcelona broke a 27-year-old Spanish record by going 35 games unbeaten in all competitions with a 5-1 thrashing of nine-man Rayo Vallecano.
Lionel Messi scored a hat-trick - his 35th - as the hosts fell apart after Ivan Rakitic's opener.
Diego Llorente and Manuel Iturra were both dismissed for Rayo, whose only goal was scored by Manucho.
Luis Suarez also had a penalty saved before Arda Turan completed the rout to move Barcelona eight points clear.
Atletico are second in La Liga, with Zinedine Zidane's Real Madrid 12 points behind the leaders in third.
Suarez's miss from the spot means Barcelona have failed to convert half of their 18 penalties this season.
Messi has scored 33 goals this season and now has as many hat-tricks as Real Madrid rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
"I'm pleased with how the season has progressed," said Enrique.
"There is attitude, intensity and finishing. When Barca manages to be like that, you create danger from the first minute and it's hard to stop them."
Line-ups
Rayo Vallecano
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 13Martín Corral
- 17Marín Ruiz
- 27Llorente RíosBooked at 42mins
- 22Crespo
- 2Román Triguero
- 6IturraBooked at 67mins
- 10Trashorras
- 11Embarba
- 12Medina LunaSubstituted forMontiel Caballeroat 56'minutes
- 23Dias CorreiaSubstituted forAmayaat 70'minutes
- 9Contreiras GonçalvesSubstituted forGuerra Rodríguezat 80'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Martínez García
- 4Amaya
- 8Baena
- 16Özbiliz
- 24Guerra Rodríguez
- 25Rodríguez Oterino
- 26Montiel Caballero
Barcelona
Formation 4-3-3
- 13Bravo
- 20Roberto CarnicerSubstituted forVidal Parreuat 72'minutes
- 3Piqué
- 14Mascherano
- 24Mathieu
- 4RakiticSubstituted forTuranat 66'minutesBooked at 78mins
- 5BusquetsSubstituted forVermaelenat 77'minutes
- 8Iniesta
- 10Messi
- 9Suárez
- 11NeymarBooked at 87mins
Substitutes
- 1ter Stegen
- 7Turan
- 17El Haddadi
- 18Alba
- 21Correia
- 22Vidal Parreu
- 23Vermaelen
- Referee:
- Iñaki Vicandi Garrido
- Attendance:
- 13,775
Match Stats
Home TeamRayo VallecanoAway TeamBarcelona
- Possession
- Home36%
- Away64%
- Shots
- Home8
- Away20
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away8
- Corners
- Home3
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home17
- Away9
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Rayo Vallecano 1, Barcelona 5.
Post update
Attempt missed. Tito (Rayo Vallecano) header from the centre of the box misses to the right.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Joni Montiel (Rayo Vallecano) left footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Adrián Embarba.
Post update
Foul by Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona).
Post update
Joni Montiel (Rayo Vallecano) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Post update
Attempt saved. Adrián Embarba (Rayo Vallecano) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Javi Guerra.
Booking
Neymar (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Neymar (Barcelona).
Post update
Antonio Amaya (Rayo Vallecano) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Goal!
Goal! Rayo Vallecano 1, Barcelona 5. Arda Turan (Barcelona) header from the right side of the six yard box to the top right corner. Assisted by Jeremy Mathieu with a cross.
Post update
Foul by Aleix Vidal (Barcelona).
Post update
Javi Guerra (Rayo Vallecano) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Luis Suárez (Barcelona) left footed shot from a difficult angle on the left misses to the right.
Post update
Offside, Rayo Vallecano. Joni Montiel tries a through ball, but Adrián Embarba is caught offside.
Substitution
Substitution, Rayo Vallecano. Javi Guerra replaces Manucho.
Post update
Offside, Rayo Vallecano. Roberto Trashorras tries a through ball, but Adrián Embarba is caught offside.
Booking
Arda Turan (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Arda Turan (Barcelona).
Post update
Tito (Rayo Vallecano) wins a free kick on the left wing.
