Madrid – Barcelona finished the first half of their league programme in superlative style on Saturday, thrashing hapless Deportivo Coruna 5-0 at home, with two goals apiece from Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto’o.

Their seventh successive win means that Barca reach the halfway mark, 19 games, on 50 points, a new record in La Liga.

They have also created a new record for goals scored at this stage, having put away 59. Josep Guardiola’s team are keen to break Real Madrid’s record of 107 goals in the 1989/90 season.

They are now 12 points ahead of second-placed Sevilla, who scored a late 1-0 home win over ten-man Numancia later on Saturday.

Barca, of course, had less problems breaking down the Deportivo defence.

“We are really enjoying ourselves this season,” said Barca playmaker Xavi, “and tonight’s was another pleasant match.”

As usual, Guardiola’s slick side had killed off the match by half-time, though they refused to ease up in the second half.

In the 21st minute Lionel Messi broke the deadlock with another of his memorable solo goals. The Argentine idol took the ball out on the left and sped past four defenders before scoring with a deft shot which went in off the post.

Six minutes later Thierry Henry made it 2-0 with a powerful header, on a clever centre from Daniel Alves.

Three minutes before half-time, with Deportivo desperate to get back in the dressing-room, keeper Daniel Aranzubia failed to hold a Seydou Keita header – and Samuel Eto’o tapped in his 17th goal.

Messi then proved that he was human by putting two clear headers wide.

Henry made it 4-0 in the 82nd minute after being set up by Xavi. Five minutes later Aranzubia was sent off for bringing down Carles Puyol – and Eto’o calmly put away the resultant penalty.

Later on Saturday, Sevilla beat lowly Numancia 1-0, on a late goal from Brazilian Renato.

Numancia had to play for 40 minutes with 10 men, after left-back Domingo Cisma had clumsily picked up a second yellow card.

20 minutes from time, Luis Fabiano almost put Sevilla ahead with a spectacular scissors kick.

Eight minutes from time Renato finally broke the deadlock with a low shot, after good work down the right by the lively Jesus Navas.

“They made things really hard for us tonight,” said goalscorer Renato.

“Just because you are playing against 10 men,” he added, “doesn’t mean you are going to score easily.”

Sevilla now have 38 points from 19 games, three more than crisis club Real Madrid.

Real will again move level with Sevilla if, as expected, they beat bottom team Osasuna at home on Sunday.

In the VIP box in the Estadio Bernabeu will be new Real president Vicente Boluda, who took over from Ramon Calderon on Friday as a consequence of the club’s assembly vote-rigging scandal. (dpa)