Finally, FC Barcelona is even with the rest of the Spanish league in number of games played after their match against Sporting Gijon at mid-week. And to no one's surprise, they won easily and extended their lead to what must seam like and insurmountable six points over second place Atlético Madrid. Their bitter rivals Real Madrid of course sit another point back off the pace.

The Catalan side has not lost since October, and have been toying with opponents. They are essentially the soccer version of the Golden State Warriors. No one, even the best teams have no answer when they face them. 

With only three points distancing them from the bottom of the league table, it would have been too much to ask of Sporting Gijon to even make the match competitive. Eventually the league leaders won 3-1, surely taking their foot off the gas just a bit as they play this weekend and again in a Champions League matchup against Arsenal Tuesday. Lionel Messi scored his 300th and 301st goals in a Barcelona shirt in Gijón, with the goals coming only six minutes apart. Luis Suarez added one for vanity later as they cruised to victory.

This weekend Barcelona play another lower end of the table club in Las Palmas, therefore it wouldn't be safe to bet that anyone will cut into their lead this weekend.

Arsenal the last couple years has risen out of the years long funk that saw them happy to get fourth in the Premier League and qualify for European competition. They still haven't taken home any hardware, but they will give Barça arguably their toughest test since they lost to Sevilla back in October. Coming from the English league, Arsenal should try their best to bring the more physical and pressing style of play to Barcelona in order to force them into uncomfortable situations. At the very least, they will tire them out for their Spanish league opponent the following weekend.

The two teams chasing them have tougher tests than what Messi and Co. have had this week, as Atlético and Real Madrid face Villarreal and Málaga, respectively. Villarreal are hanging around the top five with their eyes on a spot for European competition next year, preferably in the Champions League of course. Málaga are known to have the capability to surprise, and surely will if Real Madrid looks past them in any fashion, especially as they will be playing on the road.

The two Madrid team's chances to cut into Barça's lead likely comes next week, after Luis Enrique's men come out on the other side of a busy stretch that will test their stamina.

Photo: Flickr/El Renzo