In La liga, table-toppers Barcelona were hosting Espanyol. And with just two games left in the campaign, Barca were in control of their own destiny -- win both and they retain their crown. Slip-up and that would allow, Atletico Madrid, and Real Madrid to usurp Barca.

The hosts go ahead in the eighth minute when Lionel Messi curls in a 22-metre free kick into the top corner.

Messi then sets up Luis Suarez to smash in the second in the 52nd minute and the Uruguayan heads in a third to move on to 37 goals for the league season, one more than the entire Espanyol team.

Rafinha scores his first goal since returning from a serious knee injury before Neymar completed the rout.

5-0 is how it ends, Barca remain on top -- and can clinch the title next week if they win at Granada.

Los Blancos one point behing league leaders

Real Madrid at home to Valencia and without goalkeeper Keylor Navas, defender Dani Carvajal, midfielder Luka Modric and winger Gareth Bale due to injury, but went ahead thanks to a thunderous low finish from Cristiano Ronaldo in the 26th minute.

Karim Benzema scored before the break but Rodrigo Moreno, who was later sent off, pulled one back for Valencia after halftime.

Ronaldo added his second a few minutes later before Andre Gomes scored a sumptuous consolation goal for Valencia.

3-2 is how it ends.

Else where, Atletico Madrid dropped out of the race after losing 2-1 at relegated Levante, Deportivo beat Villarreal 2-0. No goals were scored between Las Palmas and Athletic Bilbao, and Granada thrashed Sevilla 4-1.

Over in the standings, Barca are on top with 88 points, Real moved into second on 87 and Atletico have 85 with one game remaining. Celta Vigo move to fifth after 1-0 win over Malaga who sit eighth.