La Liga: Saturday Matches Review
Lionel Messi scored his 400th career goal and Neymar hit a hat-trick as Barcelona crushed Granada 6-0 at the Camp Nou to go two points clear at the top of the Primera Division.
A deflected goal by Neymar opened scoring for the Catalans before a header by Ivan Rakitic and another strike from Neymar stretched Barça’s lead at half time. Messi scored two goals before and after Neymar’s third in the second half to complete the rout.
Although Barcelona’s 100 percent start to the season was broken during the week by a draw at Malaga, the win saw them continue to keep clean sheets records and sit two points clear of Atletico Madrid and Valencia, who are due to play on Sunday.
Atletico also had a victory at home as they swept aside Sevilla 4-0. Koke opened the scoring in the 19th minute and Saul made it two shortly before half-time. The third came courtesy of a Raul Garcia penalty seven minutes from time and his fellow substitute Raul Jimenez headed home a fourth at the death.
Cristiano Ronaldo was also on target again as Real Madrid got their third win in a row with a 2-0 success at Villarreal. Luka Modric broke the deadlock after the half-hour mark and Ronaldo doubled the lead before the break, just moments after a plane paid for by Manchester United fans flew over the Madrigal carrying the message ‘Come Home Ronaldo’.
Real Madrid still sit in fifth place on 12 points, four adrift of Barça.
