"When we saw his name wasn't in the starting lineup, we breathed a sigh of relief, " Bayern midfielder Javi Martinez said.
Javi Martinez, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery were also on the scoresheet.
Fourth-placed Real Sociedad also drew, 2-2 at Espanyol -- whose defender Javi Lopez conceded an own-goal for the equalizer with 14 minutes left.
CNN's Greg Seaby, Javi Morgado, Paul Courson, Sandra Endo, Mike M.
Robben exchanged passes with Spain midfielder Javi Martinez before stealing in behind the Barcelona defense, but he could only fire his effort straight at Victor Valdes.
He failed to hit the target when well-placed, then saw penalty appeals waved away when he went down under challenge from Javi Navarro after 76 minutes.
Two goals from oscar Cardozo and one apiece from Pablo Aimar and Javi Garcia ensured Benfica's smooth progress, where they will now face either Marseille or FC Copenhagen.
Real restored their advantage when Celta goalkeeper Javi Varas brought down Brazil playmaker Kaka and Ronaldo stepped up to score his 25th league goal of the season -- 15 behind Messi's league tally.
CNN: Ronaldo double sends Real Madrid to sixth straight victory
Faisal Javi, a spokesman for Kandahar's governor, said the roadside bomb exploded in Mewand district, which has a strong Taliban presence, but he said the group had not yet claimed responsibility for planting the device.
Early in the second half the Portugal star netted his 44th in the league this season with a close-range header, and Bilbao's last hopes of salvaging something from the game ended when Javi Martinez was sent off for a second yellow card.
Longtime stalwarts Xavi Hernandez and Xabi Alonso, who have an incredible 225 caps between them, may be the wrong side of 30, but the trio of Javi Martinez (24), Sergio Busquets (24) and Cesc Fabregas (25) are just hitting the prime of their careers.
However, he may still have to appease some fans after saying that his failure to land his top five transfer targets before the season - including United's very own Robin van Persie, Chelsea's Eden Hazard, Javi Martinez (Bayern Munich), Lazio's Daniele De Rossi and Daniel Agger of Liverpool - had cost his team its chance of glory this year.
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