Barcelona's Lionel Messi kicks the ball past Rayo Vallecano's Jorge Pulido in Madrid Sunday. — Reuters MADRID — Spanish leader Real Madrid closed in on its first league title in four years by strolling to a 3-0 victory over Sevilla, though Barcelona prevented its arch-rival from seizing the trophy for at least another round with a 7-0 thrashing of Rayo Vallecano Sunday. Spain's powerhouses recovered from unexpected midweek Champions League semifinals exits with easy victories, as Madrid maintained its seven-point advantage over the three-time defending champion for at least another three days as the countdown on Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola's tenure began. Madrid can secure its record 32nd championship regardless of Barcelona's result against Malaga Wednesday if it wins at Athletic Bilbao. Lionel Messi scored a pair to end a four-game scoreless run and match Ronaldo's 43-goal mark with his 65th goal in all competitions. The Argentina forward had a hand in an own goal by Roberto Correa, a strike by Seydou Keita and Pedro Rodriguez's brace as the Catalan club ended a three-game winless stretch, with Thiago Alcantara also scoring. Messi scored from a typical Barca buildup in the 16th minute as Sanchez dragged his markers into the center before passing wide to Pedro, who unselfishly picked out Messi at the far post. Messi won possession in midfield in the 26th and Keita collected to put Sanchez through, with the Chile striker getting past goalkeeper David Cobeno and seeing his shot from an impossible angle turned in by Correa. Messi cut inside past two defenders in the 38th and slid a spectacular pass through the legs of a third Rayo player for Keita to slot past Cobeno for 3-0. The world player of the year looked refreshed as he fed Sanchez to the left and met the Chilean's return pass inside the area for a shot that came off the crossbar but onto the path of Pedro for an easy goal. Messi laid the ball off for Thiago to head substitute Daniel Alves' cross home in the 77th before Pedro controlled Messi's long ball to blast past Cobeno in the 87th. Messi added his second in the 90th minute to match Ronaldo's for the record league total after the Portugal forward opened the scoring at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium with his 57th goal of the season, as he recovered from a missed penalty against Bayern Munich. Elsewhere it was: Malaga beat Valencia 1-0; Real Betis drew with Atletico 2-2; and Zaragoza blanked Athletic 2-0. Porto clinches title Porto clinched its 26th Portuguese Premier League title after fierce rival Benfica slipped to a 2-2 draw at Rio Ave Sunday, extending its decade-long domination of Portuguese football. The northern club won 2-0 at Maritimo Saturday thanks to two penalties by Hulk.
