"It's football -- after going in a good dynamic we've had some results we don't like, but we know what we want," Alonso told reporters.

Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao 4-0.

Teenager Lamine Yamal also scored for Barca.

Ferran Torres was also on target for the Catalan giants, who moved back into second place to trail leaders Real Madrid by five points.

The rivalry is beyond football. It’s culture. It’s philosophy.

After rivals Barcelona briefly displaced Los Blancos with a narrow win over Girona on Saturday, Xabi Alonso's side restored their two-point advantage before next weekend's Clasico.

Los Blancos moved two points clear of champions Barcelona, who visit Sevilla on Sunday, as they bounced back from last week's derby drubbing.

Julian Alvarez struck twice to earn Atletico Madrid an emphatic 5-2 derby victory over LaLiga leaders Real Madrid on Saturday, ending their rivals' perfect start to the season.

Despite missing star winger Lamine Yamal, Barca recorded their fourth consecutive victory across all competitions without the teenager.

The win keeps the unbeaten Catalans second in the standings with 13 points, trailing leaders Real Madrid by two points.

Madrid are five points clear of second-place champions Barcelona, who host Getafe on Sunday.

Xabi Alonso's side top the table on 12 points from four games, three ahead of second-placed Athletic Bilbao after they fell 1-0 against Alaves to tarnish their own perfect start.

The veteran Polish forward, 36, reached 27 league goals for the season, although he finished behind Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe on 31.

The Italian tactician, normally a picture of sideline serenity, could only shake his head as his injury-ravaged defense struggled against Barcelona's relentless assault at a sold-out Montjuic Olympic Stadium.

Paris Saint Germain head coach Luis Enrique made a bold prediction about tonight’s El Clasico in La Liga between Barcelona and Real Madrid, saying the Catalan Giants will easily defeat their arch nemesis.

Barcelona currently top the La Liga table, sitting four points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti’s side must secure victory on Sunday to keep their hopes alive of overtaking their fierce rivals in the final three matches of the season.

Madrid were left licking their wounds after a Champions League quarter-final thrashing by Arsenal, and coach Ancelotti is poised to depart at the end of the season, but it could yet be with a major trophy in his hands.

Sorloth completed a hat-trick in the opening 11 minutes, the earliest in La Liga history, beating trebles netted by the 15th minute in 1929 and 1941 by Europa's Carles Bestit and Valencia's Mundo, respectively.

Barca lead the Spanish top flight by four points ahead of rivals and defending champions Real Madrid with four matches remaining.

After the Catalans scraped a comeback win at Valladolid on Saturday, Madrid survived a late Celta fightback to maintain the four-point gap ahead of next Sunday's Clasico.