Lionel Messi opened the scoring in the 19th minute for the visitors when Xavi - who was an injury doubt coming in - fed through a trademark pass for the Argentine star to convert.
Xavi himself made it 2-0 in the 34th minute when he curled a free kick over the wall and beyond goalkeeper Diego López.
It was 3-0 and well in control for Barça three minutes before the break as Xavi this time fed in a pass for Bojan to take into the area for the goal.
Joseba Llorente pulled a goal back for Villarreal in the 67th minute when he tucked home a nice pass in from Nilmar, but Messi restored the three-goal advantage two minutes from time with a chip over López.
(GSM) - Barcelona remain on top in the Spanish Primera Division following a convincing 1-4 win at Villarreal in Saturday's late game.
After their elimination from the Champions League, Barcelona's focus returned to the domestic competition with a potentially tough away match to sixth-placed Villarreal.
But Argentinian Lionel Messi put the Catalans ahead after 19 minutes and when Xavi doubled the lead in the 34th, it looked like it would be an easy night after all for the visitors.
Bojan Krkic made it 0-3 shortly before the break and although Joseba Llorente pulled one back seven minutes after the hour, his goal failed to further inspire Villarreal.
With two minutes to go, Messi added his second of the night for a 1-4 final result.
Real Madrid now need to beat Osasuna on Sunday in order to remain at one point from their arch rivals.
MADRID (AFP) - Barcelona bounced back in style from their heartbreaking Champions League exit with a 4-1 win at Villarreal on Saturday which put them four points clear at the top of La Liga.
If Real Madrid beat Osasuna on Sunday they will reduce the gap to one point with three more matches to go.
Villarreal striker Nilmar Honorato missed a couple of excellent chances before Barcelona, dumped out of the Champions League semi-finals by Inter Milan in midweek, asserted themselves.
A deflected Lionel Messi shot put the Catalans in the lead and then a Xavi Hernandez free-kick doubled the advantage.
Bojan Krkic, playing instead of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, rounded his marker before beating the keeper for Barça's third, still before half-time.
Joseba Llorente pulled a goal back but Messi wrapped up the scoring with three minutes to go.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini believes there is still a long way to go in the championship race.
"The team which is leading obviously has more chances of winning the league but from now on all the games are going to be difficult as teams are fighting for European places or against relegation," he said.
"The key now is to keep playing at a high level in the games left."
A brace from substitute Nicola Zigic saw Valencia beat Espanyol 2-0 and consolidate third place.
Espanyol suffered their first defeat at home since last December having appeared in control of the game until Zigic struck.
After just three minutes Moises Hurtado grazed a post and then early in the second half Jose Callejon missed the target with just the keeper to beat.
Valencia coach Unai Emery replaced David Villa with Zigic on the hour mark and it had almost immediate reward with the beanpole striker slotting home a Vicente Rodriguez cross.
After having another goal wrongly called off-side, Zigic was on target again to ensure the victory.
Meanwhile, Getafe's Europa League hopes suffered a blow after they were held 0-0 away to relegation threatened Valladolid.
The home side have discovered a new steel under coach Javier Clemente and stretched their unbeaten run in the league to five games.
Valladolid could have won the match with a second-half strike from Pele which came back off the post.
Tenerife beat Racing Santander 2-1 but remain in the bottom three on goal difference after Malaga drew 1-1 with Sporting Gijon.
A fine header from Roman Martinez put Tenerife in front and Ayoze Garcia added to the lead from the penalty spot before Xisco Jimenez pulled a goal back.
Meanwhile, a strike from Salvador Caicedo earned Malaga a point after an own-goal from Antonio Apono had earlier put Sporting in front.
A late injury time header from Mario Bermejo saw bottom side Xerez beat Almeria 2-1 but they are still five points from safety.
Emiliano Armenteros put Xerez ahead with Fernando Soriano equalising before Bermejo's late show.
Deportivo la Coruna's dismal run continued as they were beaten 1-0 at home with Adrian Colunga scoring the only goal of the game.
BARCELONA (AFP) - Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola has his work cut out to lift his players for a crucial La Liga trip to Villarreal after their Champions League semi-final elimination.
Barca go into the final four games of the season with a one-point advantage over bitter rivals Real Madrid but their morale is at low ebb after the team went out on aggregate to Inter Milan on Wednesday.
"We now have to pick ourselves up, get ourselves right psychologically and plan for Saturday's game," said Guardiola.
"We have not had a long time to prepare but now we have to concentrate on finishing the season well."
President Joan Laporta went down to visit the players after training to give them his support.
"To win the league we must now win the four games and we are going to do it," Laporta said.
"While it is easy to say it, you win the league on the pitch and we will have to give everything in order to achieve it. We are best placed but we now have to raise the spirits of the players."
Villarreal will pose a tough test as they have rediscovered their form under coach Juan Carlos Garrido and are pushing for a place in Europe.
Midfielder Xavi Hernandez is the main injury doubt for Barca after picking up a calf strain.
Real, who play Osasuna, are ready waiting to pounce if the Catalan side do drop points and Cristiano Ronaldo is confident that there will be more twists and turns before the end of the season.
"There will be some surprises with Barcelona having to play against Villarreal and Sevilla. I hope that we can move above them and so I could be a champion this year," he said.
Third-placed Valencia have a tough away match at Espanyol but the real fight is taking place below them for the final Champions League position.
Inconsistency from both Mallorca and Sevilla means the battle is wide open. Last weekend Mallorca could only draw at home to struggling Malaga while Sevilla crashed away at Getafe.
Now Mallorca travel to Athletic Bilbao while Sevilla face Atletico Madrid, and both must be wary of the threat from Villarreal moving up behind.
Getafe's win over Sevilla means that they too have a European place in their sights but they now have to overcome a difficult test against third-from-bottom Valladolid who are enjoying a remarkable recovery under new coach Javier Clemente.
Only a few weeks ago their performances suggested that they were already resigned to relegation but now under Clemente they have picked up eight points from a possible 12 and are unbeaten in four games.
Valladolid are level on points with Tenerife, who after back-to-back wins slumped away at Atletico Madrid and now take on Racing Santander.
Bottom side Xerez also haven't given up the ghost but last weekend's defeat by Barcelona leaves them seven points from safety.
They now face a crunch game against Almeria who themselves need the points as a poor run of late has left them looking anxiously over their shoulders.
Also in the thick of the dogfight are Zaragoza and Malaga who play Sporting Gijon and Deportivo la Coruna respectively.
Fixtures
Saturday (1600 GMT unless stated)
Tenerife v Racing Santander, Malaga v Sporting Gijon, Valladolid v Getafe, Xerez v Almeria, Deportivo la Coruna v Zaragoza, Espanyol v Valencia (1800), Villarreal v Barcelona (2000)
Sunday
Sevilla v Atletico Madrid (1500), Real Madrid v Osasuna (1700), Athletic Bilbao v Mallorca (1900)
(GSM) - Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola should encourage and lift his players from their Champions League heartbreak for the weekend trip to Villarreal in La Liga.
Barca won all six trophies available to them last year but they are in danger of ending 2010 empty-handed unless they can put Wednesday night's disappointing Champions League semi-final exit to Inter Milan behind them.
Currently, the reigning champions are a point ahead of Real Madrid at the top of the Primera Division standings with four games remaining.
However, Barca look to have the much trickier task this weekend as, while Madrid look to make it 17 home wins out of 18 when they host mid-table Osasuna, Guardiola's men have to go to improving Villarreal.
Villarreal, who have lost just twice at home this season, have won five of their last six matches to climb up to sixth in the standings.
"We now have to pick ourselves up, get ourselves right psychologically and plan for Saturday's game," said Guardiola.
"We have not had a long time to prepare but now we have to concentrate on finishing the season well,” he said about Villarreal clash.
President Joan Laporta went down to visit the players after training to give them his support.
"To win the league we must now win the four games and we are going to do it," Laporta said.
"While it is easy to say it, you win the league on the pitch and we will have to give everything in order to achieve it. We are best placed but we now have to raise the spirits of the players," he added.
Villarreal will pose a tough test as they have rediscovered their form under coach Juan Carlos Garrido and are pushing for a place in Europe.
Midfielder Xavi Hernandez is the main injury doubt for Barca after picking up a calf strain.
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