La Liga: Barca thrash Racing 4-0

Thierry Henry was on target as Barcelona cruised to a 4-0 home win over Racing Santander on Saturday to move five points clear at the top of La Liga.

Swede Zlatan Ibrahimovic dropped out with an ankle problem and France striker Henry made the most of his opportunity, having watched the last three matches from the bench.

He netted a fortuitous free kick in the 29th minute after Andres Iniesta had opened the scoring at the Nou Camp.

Rafael Marquez made it 3-0 with a superb curling free kick in the 34th before youth team midfielder Thiago came off the bench to add the fourth goal near the end.

The leaders, who lost their first game of the season at Atletico Madrid last weekend, have 58 points from 23 games but second-placed Real Madrid can cut the gap on Sunday when they host Villarreal.

Elsewhere, Deportivo Coruna climbed to fifth on 38 points with a 2-1 home win over bottom team Xerez.

Xerez's search for a first away win in the top flight got off to a bad start when they conceded a penalty after three minutes which Mexican forward Andres Guardado converted.

Visiting coach Nestor Gorosito was sent to the stands for protesting and in the seventh minute Depor striker Riki broke clear to double the lead.

Mario Bermejo's header halved the deficit before the break but Xerez failed to stop Depor moving within one point of Sevilla, who visit sixth-placed Real Mallorca in Saturday's late game.