In the race for the 2016/2017 Spanish La Liga title, Barcelona have once again secured a win that keeps the pressure up on rivals Real Madrid.

The Luis Enrique’s side thumped Villarreal 4-1 at the Camp Nou on Saturday to move three points clear of Madrid at the top of La Liga.

The home team got ahead when Neymar finished off a fine team move by scoring from close range after Messi’s pass in the 21st minute, but Villarreal’s Cedric Bakambu equalised about 10 minutes later.

Messi scored his 50th goal of the season to put Barca ahead on the stroke of halftime, Luis Suarez added a third from a tight angle, before Messi chipped a penalty after Jaume Costa’s handball.

The penalty was Messi’s 35th goal in La Liga this season, and the 51st in all competitions.

The win takes Barcelona on to 84 points, three points more than second-placed Real, who have two games in hand and play away at Granada later on Saturday.