Barcelona's forward Pedro Rodriguez celebrates his goal during the Spanish league football match FC Barcelona vs Cordoba CF at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on December 20, 2014 © Getty Images

The home side needed less than two minutes to open the scoring, as Ivan Rakitic fired a long ball forward for Pedro to thrash into the top corner.

Barcelona had a chance for a second shortly after, but Luiz Suarez fired just wide after Jordi Alba had picked the Uruguayan out with a through ball.

Cordoba's first real chance of the first half fell to Nabil Ghilas, who rounded a couple of defenders before attempting to drive the ball in after 20 minutes, but his low finish went wide.

The hosts wanted a penalty when Jose Angel Crespo brought down Martin Montoya in the box, but the referee was not interested in their appeals.

Pedro could have added his second shortly before the break when he tried a low effort from outside the box, but his strike could not find the target.

After a quiet start to the second half, Barcelona extended their lead when Suarez added his first league goal for the club, tapping in from a Pedro cross.

Barcelona's Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez celebrates after scoring during the Spanish league football match FC Barcelona vs Cordoba CF at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on December 20, 2014 © Getty Images

Any hopes of a Cordoba comeback were ended when Gerard Pique added a third inside the final 10 minutes, heading in from a Xavi free kick.

Barca needed just two minutes to make it four after the home side forced a corner which eventually resulted in Lionel Messi curling the ball into the top corner.

Despite being kept quiet for most of the game, the Argentine was in again in stoppage time to complete a late brace, slotting the ball into the bottom of the net in the final seconds.

The result leaves Barcelona just a point behind leaders Real Madrid, but having played a came more, while Cordoba remain in the relegation zone.