ionel Messi came off the bench with Barcelona losing 1-0 away to Racing Santander on Sunday - and gave them a 2-1 win with two classy late goals in a match the winners ended with nine men, dpa reported.
Messi's goals gave Barca their ninth straight league win, and leaves them with a record-breaking 56 points from 21 games, 12 more than second-placed Real Madrid, who won 2-0 away to Numancia on Saturday.
Barca coach Josep Guardiola raised eyebrows by leaving the in-form Messi on the bench. His team sorely missed the imagination of the Argentine, and failed to create a clear chance throughout the first half.
11 minutes into the second half Santander were given a penalty for a foul by Rafa Marquez on little Jonathan Pereira, and Nikola Zigic made no mistake from the spot.
Guardiola brought on Messi and suddenly Barca were a team transformed.
In the 66th minute Xavi headed a Thierry Henry centre onto the crossbar, and Messi followed up to put away the rebound and make it 1-1.
14 minutes later Messi made it 2-1 with a powerful drive with his supposedly weaker left foot, after Samuel Eto'o had opened up the Santander defence.
Barca had defenders Marquez and Gerard Pique sent off at the end, but even so had few problems in holding on for their ninth win.
"They are an excellent side," said Santander veteran Munitis, "and it would be a massive shock to everyone of they did not win the league."
Real Madrid are six points ahead of third-placed Sevilla, who are away to Sporting Gijon in Sunday's late game.
In joint fourth place, four points behind Sevilla, are Valencia - who are at home to Almeria later on Sunday evening - and Villarreal, who crashed 3-0 away to Deportivo Coruna.
Star of the show in La Coruna was Angel Lafita, who scored for the hosts in the third and 62nd minutes.
The handsome win takes Deportivo up to sixth, just one point behind Villarreal and Valencia.
Atletico Madrid stay seventh, one point behind Deportivo, after crashing 2-1 at home to lively Valladolid.
Luis Prieto gave Valladolid the lead six minutes into the second half. Five minutes later a clumsy own goal from Jose Garcia Calvo made it 1-1.
But Valladolid were looking much brighter than nervous Atletico, and veteran Victor hit the winner from the penalty spot 11 minutes from time, after Mariano Pernia had pulled down Henok Goitom.
The game finished with the long-suffering Atletico fans chanting for the sacking of coach Javier Aguirre.
Sunday's other early games all had relegation significance.
Osasuna beat Mallorca 1-0, Espanyol drew 1-1 with Recreativo Huelva, Betis were held 2-2 by Getafe.
These results mean that Mallorca, Espanyol and Osasuna are now triple-tied at the bottom on 17 points, with Numancia three points above them and Betis five points clear.