Barcelona's 31 home win over Celta Vigo on Saturday marked the Catalan club's best start to the Spanish league in its 113year history.
Barcelona's ninth win through 10 rounds opened up a provisional 11point gap over defending champion Real Madrid ahead of its match against Real Zaragoza.
Adriano and David Villa scored in the 21st and 26th minutes to give Barcelona a 21 advantage by halftime, with Mario Bermejo netting for Celta in the 24th.
Villa played Jordi Alba clear to put the result beyond doubt in the 61st.
Also, undefeated Atletico Madrid looked to retain its share of the league lead with a ninth straight win at Valencia.
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi, who became a father for the first time on Friday to a baby boy, paraded his Golden Boot trophy for the top scorer in Europe's domestic leagues last season before the game.
Celta packed its box and looked to counterattack against a Barcelona defense still missing injured firstchoice center backs Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique, and striker Iago Aspas had a golden opportunity early but couldn't better Victor Valdes oneonone.
Barcelona went ahead when Adriano played Pedro Rodriguez wide for the winger to charge forward and cross back to the Brazilian defender who volleyed past goalkeeper Javi Varas.
But Celta hit right back as forward Mario Bermejo pushed in a rebound of Alex Lopez's initial strike saved by Valdes, to cap a move triggered by an incisive long pass from Michael KrohnDehli.
The flurry of goals continued as Villa and Andres Iniesta quickly dampened Celta's euphoria two minutes later. The Spain striker played Iniesta through with a deft backheeled pass and moved into position to fire in Iniesta's assist.
Messi, usually so deadly when given even half a chance, uncharacteristically failed to get off a shot when he stole the ball and had only Varas to beat just before halftime. Messi was unable to add to his leagueleading 13 goals.
Aspas again sent shudders through the Camp Nou crowd with a twisting shot from almost no angle 30 second into the second half, but Villa cued Barca's decisive goal with a second exquisite backheeled flick to send Jordi Alba clear to dribble Varas and roll the ball in.
Barcelona's previous best start came in 1997 when it had eight wins and a draw before losing its first match.
Earlier, Malaga suffered just its second loss in 16 games in all competitions when Francisco "Piti" Medina scored twice to give Rayo Vallecano a 21 win at La Rosaleda Stadium. Malaga visits AC Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Spanish Football Standings
La Liga
GP
W
D
L
GF
GA
Pts
Barcelona
10
9
1
0
32
12
28
Atletico Madrid
9
8
1
0
22
9
25
Real Madrid
10
6
2
2
25
7
20
Malaga
10
5
3
2
14
7
18
Real Betis
9
5
1
3
13
13
16
Levante
9
5
1
3
12
14
16
Sevilla
9
4
2
3
12
11
14
Getafe
9
4
1
4
10
12
13
Rayo Vallecano
10
4
1
5
13
23
13
Real Zaragoza
10
4
0
6
9
15
12
Valladolid
9
3
2
4
14
11
11
Valencia
9
3
2
4
11
12
11
Mallorca
9
3
2
4
10
14
11
Celta Vigo
10
3
1
6
11
14
10
Real Sociedad
9
3
1
5
10
14
10
Athletic Bilbao
9
2
2
5
12
19
8
Granada
9
2
2
5
8
15
8
Deportivo La Coruna
9
1
4
4
14
20
7
Espanyol
9
1
3
5
11
15
6
Osasuna
9
1
2
6
8
14
5
Saturday, Nov. 3
Malaga 1, Rayo Vallecano 2
Barcelona 3, Celta Vigo 1
Real Madrid 4, Real Zaragoza 0
Atletico Madrid at Valencia
Sunday, Nov. 4
Espanyol at Real Sociedad
Mallorca at Deportivo La Coruna
Valladolid at Osasuna
Athletic Bilbao at Granada
Levante at Sevilla