Barcelona shut out for 41 minutes, then explodes for 8-0 rout of Cordoba (Video)

The gap between second-place Real Madrid and first-place Barcelona in the La Liga title race remained at two points going into this weekend's games, but who are we kidding? It would take a shocking stumble by Barca for Real to claim its first league title since 2012.

[FC Yahoo: David Beckham's big plans to celebrate 40th birthday]

For 41 minutes on Saturday, Real Madrid supporters had to think they were about to get that miracle result against Barcelona from the most unlikely source – last-place Cordoba. Crushed 5-0 at the Camp Nou in December, the underdog hosts had surrendered about three quarters of possession but had managed to limit Barca to just one shot on goal.

[La Liga: Scores and Schedule | Current Standings | Teams]

But then Barcelona broke through with Ivan Rakitic converting a chance created by a wonderful pass over the top of the Cordoba defense by Lionel Messi. Five minutes later, Luis Suarez, who would finish with a hat trick, was the beneficiary of an equally exquisite ball to the far post by Andres Iniesta to give Barca a 2-0 halftime lead in a match it would end up winning comfortably 8-0.

When the teams returned to the sun-splashed pitch at Estadio Municipal Nuevo after the break, the rout was officially on after Messi scored his 39th league goal to tie Cristiano Ronaldo for the La Liga lead.

Neymar should've joined the fun in the 60th minute but he pushed his left-footed toke poke on Suarez's bouncing cross wide of the open goal. The Brazilian got on the board with an 85th-minute penalty to make it 7-0 after Messi handed off the spot kick to the former Santos star.

Suarez got his hat trick in 88th minute. Cordoba got its ticket officially punched for relegation.

Joe Lago is the deputy editor and soccer editor of Yahoo Sports. Follow him on Twitter @joelago.