MADRID, April 23 -- Real Madrid produced one of the displays of the season to win 6-3 away to Valencia on Sunday in the Spanish La Liga.

Gonzalo Higuain scored a hat-trick, while Kaka scored twice and Karim Benzema also netted as Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho rested nine players from the side who had won the Copa del Rey last Wednesday.

Anyone expecting a close encounter between the league's second and third in the table was soon given a rude awakening as Real Madrid never looked in danger from the moment Benzema took advantage of an error from Valencia keeper Vicente Guaita. Higuain scored following another mistake from Jeremy Mathieu, while the remaining goals all came thanks to Real Madrid's speed on the break.

Real Madrid now hold a 17 point lead over Valencia to show just how much the big two sides in Spain dominate the competition.

Barcelona were much less impressive in their home game against Osasuna, but David Villa ended a run of 11 appearances without scoring and Leo Messi netted his 31st league goal of the campaign as the Catalans remained eight points clear of Real Madrid. They lead Valencia by 25 points.

Athletic Bilbao won a tense Basque derby against Real Sociedad 2-1. Iker Muniain and Gaizka Toquero scored for Athletic, while Javi Martinez sliced an own goal past debutant keeper Raul Fernandez to give Real Sociedad the chance of a point.

The visitors dominated the second half, but a solid defensive display was enough to give Athletic the points in a high octane match played in a great atmosphere in the San Mames Stadium and they remain fifth in the table.

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