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Barcelona brush aside Valladolid

Xavi, Daniel Alves and Lionel Messi scored to round off a positive week for the champions, in which coach Pep Guardiola ended speculation over his future by agreeing to a one-year contract extension.

Barca have 49 points from 19 games.

"It's no bad thing to finish the first half of the season unbeaten but it is little more than an anecdote. There are still many games to play," Guardiola told reporters.

Saves from Victor Valdes kept Valladolid at bay and in the 56th minute Zlatan Ibrahimovic set up Messi for the third, and the Argentine's 15th of the season, to end the match as a contest.

Juca and Pablo Alvarez made sure of the win, with Depor defender Diego Colotto scoring in his own net for Bilbao's goal.

Santiago Acasiete's backpass to his goalkeeper ran up short in the area and Renato nipped in and squared for Negredo to score in the empty net.