Goals from Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi steered Barcelona to a 0-3 away victory against fellow title contenders Sevilla that leaves them six points clear at the top of the table this morning after last year's champions fell to a 1-3 defeat against local rivals Getafe in yesterday's other early fixture.

Eto'o opened the scoring in the 20th minute, picking up a loose ball on the edge of the area before slicing into the top right corner of Palop's net.

Messi made sure of the points in the 78th minute with a superb volley from outside the area and he completed his brace on the stroke of full-time just minutes after the home side had been reduced to ten men when Fabiano was shown a straight red for an off-the-ball elbow in the face of Sergio Busquets.

Real Madrid's hopes of a third consecutive title were dented by a Getafe side inspired by striker Juan Angel Albin, who scored two and set up the third for substitute Uche.

The first came just three minutes in when sloppy defending allowed Albin to rise unchallenged to convert Gavilán's cross from close range.

Casillas was beaten on his near post shortly after the interval when Albin ran on to Gago's through ball, and chose to shoot rather than feeding former Real striker Soldado.

Saviola pulled one back with a toe-poked drive into the top corner from the edge of the area after good work by Guti, but Uche put the result beyond doubt eight minutes from time, slotting home Albin's square ball inside Casillas's inside post.

Saturday, 29th November
Getafe 3-1 Real Madrid
Sevilla 0-3 Barcelona

Liga standings, 29th November
1  Barcelona  32*
2  Real Madrid  26*
3  Villarreal  25
4  Valencia  24
5  Sevilla  24*
6  Atletico Madrid  18
7  Deportivo La Coruna  18
8  Real Betis  17
9  Getafe  17*
10 Real Valladolid  16
11 Racing Santander  15
12 Malaga  15
13 Almeria  15
14 Sporting Gijon  15
15 Real Mallorca  13
16 Espanyol  12
17 Numancia  11
18 Athletic Bilbao  9
19 Osasuna  8
20 Recreativo Huelva  7
*played 13, the rest have played 12

Sunday, 30th November
Almeria vs Deportivo La Coruna
Athletic Bilbao vs Numancia
Espanyol vs Sporting Gijon
Malaga vs Osasuna
Recreativo Huelva vs Villarreal
Valladolid vs Mallorca
Valencia vs Real Betis
Atletico Madrid vs Racing Santander