Xavi’s revamped Barcelona team hammered Getafe 4-0 on Saturday to move to second in La Liga with Joao Felix and Raphinha, who were back in the side, scoring.
The champions moved above Girona and have 57 points from 26 games.
Leaders Real Madrid have 62 points and play their game in hand at home to Sevilla on Sunday.
Real Madrid aim to extend their La Liga unbeaten run to 20 matches as they face old boy Sergio Ramos, who returns for the first time since he left in 2021 to join PSG.
Joao Felix and Raphinha were absent for the midweek Champions League 1-1 draw at Napoli and their return was fruitful.
“We knew which spaces to exploit and we did that several times and that’s where the goals came from. It’s a win that gives us a bit more calm,” said Xavi.
Brazilian forward Raphinha opened the scoring on 20 minutes, running onto a long pass with a well-timed run and smooth shot into the bottom corner.
Raphinha also took part in the second goal as Felix made it 2-0 with a far post tap in after 53 minutes, just after Getafe had hit the post.
Robert Lewandowski thought he’d scored the third just before the hour but was off-side.
The Pole has scored nine goals in his last 13 games, but was also twice stopped by good saves on Saturday.
Dutch midfielder Frenkie De Jong did score the third just after the hour with a well hit shot from outside the box before Fermin Lopez tapped in a rebound in added time.
A minute’s silence was held before the match as a tribute following a fire disaster at a 14-storey apartment block which killed 10 people in Valencia.
The scheduled Liga game between Granada and Valencia was called off.
