On a weekend when Floyd Mayweather was lambasted for hiding away from Manny Pacquiao, both Barcelona and Real Madrid proved beyond doubt that they’re ready to stand toe-to-toe with anyone.

Had there have been a boxing match at the Estadio Nuevo Arcangel, then Cordoba would have thrown in the towel long before the referee called a halt to an absolute mauling from the Blaugrana.

Barca had their hosts on the ropes from the beginning and only some Mayweather-esque bobbing and weaving saw the scoreline remain respectable until just before half-time. They ultimately lost 8-0.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side, meanwhile, had a real heavyweight battle to overcome, with Sevilla given much more than a puncher’s chance at toppling Los Blancos.

Not having lost at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in 15 months, the Andalusians were rightly confident of getting the result.

The way in which they were dispatched, however, was brutal. Real, and Cristiano Ronaldo in particular, were at their very best in the 3-2 triumph.

Bayern Munich and Juventus lie in wait for Spain’s top two in the Champions League this week, but if last weekend’s performances are a guide, both Ancelotti and Luis Enrique have nothing to fear.

Although it’s been said many times that La Liga is a “two team league”, ostensibly that is because Barca and Real are streets ahead of their opponents — as they would also be in any other league, anywhere in the world frankly.

There isn’t a club side that comes close to either when they are giving their best, much like a 48 and 0 Mayweather. It’s utterly futile to try and argue to the contrary.

Such continued sporting excellence might not sit too well with the neutral masses of course, but remains heartily recognised by those within the game.

After all, it’s what sportsmen and women live and die for isn’t it — to win? Why bother taking up sport and competing otherwise?!

You can be assured too that the struggle to stay at the very top of a chosen profession is every bit as difficult as that which faces the man, woman or team trying to topple his or her opponent from their perch.

So why is the same so often labelled as “boring” or “uncompetitive”? It does as much of a disservice to Real’s and Barca’s opponents as it does to the league leaders themselves.

The playing field will level out soon in any event, as the new TV deal begins to kick in.

It will afford other sides an opportunity, nothing more, to prove that they have the tools to outwit their illustrious opponents.

I’m still willing to bet that they, like Manny Pacquiao, won’t have enough about them to deliver the knockout blow.

— The writer is a freelance journalist and Spanish football expert