The two sides went into the game at completely opposite ends of the table, Barca leading the way in La Liga and Malaga propping up the division.
It was easy to see why there was such a gap between the two in the standings on the night, with Barca simply far too good for their opponents.
The visitors dominated possession from the off and it took a fine save from Roberto in the home goal to prevent Luis Suarez from opening the scoring after just 12 minutes.
Just three minutes later though, there was nothing he could do to deny the Uruguayan. Jordi Alba whipped in a wicked ball from deep on the left and Suarez rose completely unmarked to head home from 12 yards.
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Once Barca were in the lead they never looked like surrendering it, with Suarez finding the side-netting just minutes after scoring as he smelled blood.
With 28 minutes on the clock Barca’s lead was doubled and it was a goal of some quality. Sergi Roberto slipped the ball into the path of Ousmane Dembele in the box. The Frenchman had the presence of mind to cut inside his man and cross low for Philippe Coutinho, who effortlessly flicked home to double the advantage.
As if Barca weren’t in the box seat enough, Malaga winger Samu Garcia was given his marching orders just two minutes following that goal as he dived in rashly on Alba, with the referee immediately reaching for his top pocket.
Ivan Rakitic curled just wide from range as Barca went for the kill, but despite being down to 10 Malaga did create a glorious chance to get on the scoresheet nine minutes before the break, but Youssef El-Nesyri could only head wide at the far post after being picked out by Manuel Iturra. Mehdi Lacen should have done better just before the break as he blazed over from the edge of the box after good work form El-Nesyri.
With that the two sides went in level, but the result was already decided.
Barca treated the second half as a training game, keeping possession at will and shooting from range with regularity.
Dembele saw a well-struck volley from the edge of the box drop just wide before Coutinho saw Roberto deny him as he took aim from all angles.
Samuel Umtiti should have done better when presented with a fine headed chance but he could only pick out Roberto after being inexplicably left completely unmarked six yards out.
Malaga never looked like finding a way back into the game, with a tame low effort from Diego Rolan the most threatening opening they created.
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The visitors ambled over the line in the end to move three points closer to the title and extend their lead at the top to 11 points, with Atletico Madrid not playing until Sunday.
Malaga, meanwhile remain rooted to the bottom of the table 11 points adrift of safety.