MADRID, April 23 -- Real Madrid produced one of the displays of the season to win 6-3 away to Valencia on Sunday in the Spanish La Liga.
Gonzalo Higuain scored a hat-trick, while Kaka scored twice and Karim Benzema also netted as Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho rested nine players from the side who had won the Copa del Rey last Wednesday.
Anyone expecting a close encounter between the league's second and third in the table was soon given a rude awakening as Real Madrid never looked in danger from the moment Benzema took advantage of an error from Valencia keeper Vicente Guaita. Higuain scored following another mistake from Jeremy Mathieu, while the remaining goals all came thanks to Real Madrid's speed on the break.
Real Madrid now hold a 17 point lead over Valencia to show just how much the big two sides in Spain dominate the competition.
Barcelona were much less impressive in their home game against Osasuna, but David Villa ended a run of 11 appearances without scoring and Leo Messi netted his 31st league goal of the campaign as the Catalans remained eight points clear of Real Madrid. They lead Valencia by 25 points.
Athletic Bilbao won a tense Basque derby against Real Sociedad 2-1. Iker Muniain and Gaizka Toquero scored for Athletic, while Javi Martinez sliced an own goal past debutant keeper Raul Fernandez to give Real Sociedad the chance of a point.
The visitors dominated the second half, but a solid defensive display was enough to give Athletic the points in a high octane match played in a great atmosphere in the San Mames Stadium and they remain fifth in the table.
Sunday saw Sporting Gijon beat Espanyol 1-0 to virtually assure their place in the top flight next season. Nacho Novo's goal gave Sporting the points and put a huge dent in Espanyol's European ambitions on an emotional day for Sporting coach Manuel Preciado, whose father was killed in a car accident on Wednesday.
Hercules kept their survival chances alive with a 1-0 win at home to a negative Deportivo la Coruna. Tiago Gomes' header 20 minutes from time gave the side from Alicante their reward.
Malaga won 2-1 away to Racing Santander to make the battle to avoid relegation tighter than ever. Julio Cesar Baptista and Seba Fernandez both scored their second goals in two weeks to maintain the positive form of Manuel Pellegrini's side.
Meanwhile Getafe slip closer to trouble after losing 2-0 in Mallorca. Jose Nunes and Akihiro Ienaga both scored from corners to highlight Getafe's frailties in defense and condemn them to another nervous week near the relegation zone.
Kun Aguero scored twice as Atletico Madrid defeated Levante 4-1 to maintain their challenge for a place in Europe next season. Elias opened the scoring with a free kick and Levante keeper Gustavo Munua scored to add the fourth with a goal in his own net.
Sevilla also took a big step towards Europe with a thrilling 3- 2 win against Villarreal.
Ivan Rakitic and Alvaro Negredo put the home side two ahead before Carlos Marchena pulled Villarreal back into the match. Koffi Romaric re-established Sevilla's two goal lead, but Giuseppe Rossi added a second for Villarreal to give emotion to the final minutes.
Zaragoza and Almeria end the 34th round matches on Monday night.