Luis Suarez scored four goals after a rare Lionel Messi header as Barcelona defeated Sporting Gijon 6-0 to stay atop La Liga, while title rivals Atletico and Real Madrid also won on Saturday.

Messi's goal came in the 12th minute but had a bit of controversy as Sporting keeper Ivan Cuellar punched away a lofted ball and then collided with the oncoming Luis Suarez. Referee Clos Gomez allowed play to continue and Messi headed into the vacant net for his first headed goal in all competitions this season.

Sporting were again upset with Gomez just before the break when Barcelona cleared the ball off their goal line twice. The second clearance came off the arm of Gerard Pique, but the referee stayed silent.

Suarez scored Barca's second goal on 64 minutes as Messi played through Andres Iniesta, who passed across for the Uruguayan to tap in. And he took the lead over Cristiano Ronaldo in La Liga's scoring charts with a pair of penalties.

Neymar added a third Barcelona penalty after Ognjen Vranjes' 84th-minute red card, and Suarez found his fourth of the night with a near-post strike two minutes from time.

There are only three games remaining for the title contenders as Barcelona and Atletico are level on 82 points, with Barca ahead on the head-to-head tiebreaker and Real Madrid only a point behind.

Gareth Bale inspired Real Madrid to come from two goals down to win 3-2 at Rayo Vallecano in a testing workout ahead of the Champions League clash with Manchester City.

Madrid were without Cristiano Ronaldo for the first time in a Primera Division game this season, due to a thigh problem, and their title bid looked in tatters when Adrian Embarba and Miku put Rayo 2-0 up in just 14 minutes.

Wales star Bale headed Madrid back into the game before the break and then grabbed the winner in the 81st minute after substitute Lucas Vazquez had equalised.

The euphoria of the comeback was punctured, however, by Karim Benzema being substituted after suffering a knock before half-time, and the Frenchman could miss Tuesday's European semifinal first leg in Manchester.

Atletico Madrid later saw off Malaga 1-0 at the Estadio Vicente Calderon.

Angel Correa scored the only goal of the game on 62 minutes to keep Atletico a point ahead of Real.

The match saw Atletico boss Diego Simeone sent to the stands after an incident in the first half that saw a second ball thrown onto the pitch when Malaga were looking to counter attack.

The victory was a fifth on the trot in La Liga for the Rojiblancos and, as well as keeping them flying high domestically, tees them up nicely for their Champions League semifinal first leg against Bayern Munich in midweek.

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