Eight-goal Barcelona hammer Cordoba to move one step closer to La Liga title

For a short while there was a very slight concern that Barcelona's title hopes might get burned in the stifling heat in Cordoba.

Luis Enrique's side had scored inside 20 minutes in their previous six matches, but with the clock approaching half time at the Estadio Nuevo Arcangel there had been no goals and temperatures were topping 30 degrees. 

Then Lionel Messi cut in from the right, curled that pass to the left which he so often likes to play, picking out Ivan Rakitic's run and the Croatian did the rest.

That was in the 42nd minute and from that point on Barça did not stop scoring. 

Cordoba goalkeeper Juan Carlos was beaten seven more times and the Catalans are now within three wins of the legaue title. 

Luis Suarez scored the second just before the break and went on to complete a hat-trick after it; Messi scored two, unselfishly letting Neymar take a late penalty; and Gerard Pique was also on target, scoring one of three Barcelona headers. 

Three wins may even become two if Sevilla, who are unbeaten at home this season, take points off Real Madrid later on Saturday evening. 

The defeat all-but confirmed Cordoba's relegation (depending on the Almeria situation), but despite the home side's precarious place at the bottom of the table coming into the match, Luis Enrique had resisted the tempation to rotate his squad. 

Even with Bayern Munich due at Camp Nou on Wednesday, the Barça boss didn't feel it was wise to gamble with the league in Andalusia.

Barça started quickly, Neymar firing over a guilt-edged chance from a Dani Alves cross, and were soon camped around Cordoba's box. 

Florin Andone could have scored for the hosts at the other end, but it was Barça in control. 

In control, but not looking especially dangerous. After 20 minutes it was still goalless. After 30, too, and even after 40. That electric start had petered out and the temparture looked to be causing problems.

However, the weather was the same for Cordoba and once Messi's left boot paved the way for Rakitic to rocket home the opener, their players collapsed.

Suarez soon added the second, latching onto an Andres Iniesta pass to give Barça's No.8 his first assist in La Liga this season, and then things got out of control in the second half. 

Alves crossed for Messi to head home the third; Alves crossed for Suarez to head home the fourth; and Rakitic crossed for Pique to head home the fifth. 

And there was still time for three more goals. 

Messi poked home the sixth after good work from substitute Pedro and he then gave up the chance to score a hat-trick and move on to 41 league goals for the season -- Cristiano Ronaldo has 39 -- by letting Neymar slot home a penalty the Brazilian had won himself. 

That was in the 85th minute and in the 88th minute Suarez completed his first Barça treble. 

Suarez (24), Messi (51) and Neymar (33) now have 108 goals between them this season. Enrique will hope that number will continue to grow on Wednesday.