La Liga leaders Barcelona beat Sevilla 3-2 while second-placed Real Madrid crushed Athletic Bilbao 5-1 to keep the exciting title race alive for another week. Defending champions Barca seized a three-goal advantage over hosts Sevilla after Lionel Messi, Bojan Krkic and Pedro Rodriguez scored on five, 28 and 62 minutes respectively. Frederic Kanoute and Luis Fabiano pulled two goals back on 69 and 71 minutes but the Catalans defended their slender lead till the end. In another match on Saturday Real destroyed a ten-man Bilbao side at Santiago Bernabeu. Fernando Amorebieta received a straight red card after 20 minutes and Los Merengues capitalized on their opponents' numerical disadvantage right away. Two minutes after Amorebieta's dismissal, the evergreen Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring upon converting a penalty kick. Francisco Yeste hit an equalizer four minutes from halftime but the home side replied fiercely after the break. Gonzalo Higuain fired Real in front once again on 73 minutes and Sergio Ramos ensured their lead seven minutes later.
Karim Benzema hit the fourth for Manuel Pellegrini's team in the 81st minute before Marcelo put the icing on the cake seconds from time. Real are now in second place on 95 points, only one behind defending champions Barcelona. Each team have one game to go. The Catalans are tipped to retain the league title as they are expected to beat minnows Real Valladolid next Saturday. A victory For Barcelona would see them end their campaign in triumph irrespective of the result of Real's next match. Real are facing Malaga next Saturday. Sevilla-Barcelona goals Real Madrid-Athletic Bilbao goals
