( CNN ) -- For the first time in over five years , a run of more than 300 competitive matches , Barcelona had less possession than the opposition . For this to happen against an also-ran in the Spanish league was some surprise , but for Gerardo Martino it was no big deal . After all , the Barca team that he took charge of in July still notched a fifth successive La Liga win , beating Rayo Vallecano 4-0 on Saturday as Pedro grabbed a hat-trick . But it does herald a change in approach for a team whose intricate style of `` Tiki-taka '' passing has made it one of the most successful clubs in world football -- a success mirrored and surpassed on the international stage by Spain . The numbers were n't startlingly one-sided -- Barca had 49 % of the ball compared to the home side 's 51 % -- but it was a big drop from the stats so customary under the guidance of previous coaches Josep Guardiola and Tito Vilanova . Martino , however , is his own man -- and he is trying to put in place a `` Plan B '' when in the past it looked like the reigning Spanish champion had none . `` Rayo pressed us and they made it difficult to play short passes . We had the alternative to play long and at times you have to do this in these types of matches in order reach other parts of the field , '' the Argentine said . `` I really liked the team in the second half . We did n't have defensive errors and , like the match against Ajax , we improved over the course of the match . We have the capacity to score a lot of goals . '' Pedro was the main beneficiary of Barca 's firepower , being set up by midweek hat-trick hero Lionel Messi , Cesc Fabregas and then Neymar to take his league tally to five this season . Fabregas wrapped it up in the 80th minute with a sumptuous strike , but keeper Victor Valdes also made a vital contribution against second-bottom Vallecano as he saved a first-half penalty soon after Pedro 's opener . `` Valdes is playing at a fantastic level and all I can do is enjoy it as his manager . He had decisive saves and he saved a penalty , '' Martino said . The win put Barca top on goal difference , as Atletico Madrid also notched a fifth straight win in Saturday 's late match . Second-half goals from Raul Garcia and Diego Costa earned a 2-0 victory at Real Valladolid , putting the top two teams five points clear ahead of Sunday 's games -- when Real Madrid hosts Getafe and Villarreal travels to Celta Vigo . In Saturday 's other games , Malaga drew 0-0 at Real Sociedad and Levante came from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw at Almeria after the home side had Cristian Fernandez sent off for two bookings in a minute . In Italy , Chievo moved out of the bottom three with a 2-1 win at home to Udinese , while struggling Sampdoria snatched a 2-2 draw at Cagliari in which three of the goals came in the final four minutes . Genoa and Livorno drew 0-0 in the other game played Saturday .
Pedro scores hat-trick as Barcelona 's 100 % La Liga run continues . Score: 6 Struggling home team edges possession to end Barca 's long-running stat . Gerardo Martino 's team top on goal difference from Atletico Madrid .