Second-half goals from Thierry Henry and Zlatan Ibrahimovic helped Barcelona to a 2-0 win at promoted Xerez that put them five points clear of second-placed Real Madrid.
The match had been brought forward two weeks because of Barcelona’s participation in the Club World Cup, which starts in Abu Dhabi on December 9.
The unbeaten champions moved onto 33 points having played one game more than second-placed Real Madrid, on 28.