Monday 29 September 2014 17:44, UK
Lionel Messi scored his 400th career goal and Neymar hit a hat-trick as Barcelona crushed Granada 6-0 at the Nou Camp to go two points clear at the top of the Primera Division.
Lionel Messi scored his 400th career goal and Neymar hit a hat-trick as Barcelona crushed Granada 6-0 at the Nou Camp to go two points clear at the top of the Primera Division.
A deflected goal by Neymar set the Catalans on their way to victory before a header by Ivan Rakitic and another strike from Neymar stretched Barca's lead at the break.
Two Messi strikes sandwiched Neymar's third in the second half as the South American duo completed the rout.
Barca had surrendered their 100 per cent start to the season in midweek by drawing at Malaga, but this win lifted them two points clear of Atletico Madrid, with Valencia, who went into the weekend level on points with Barca, not in action until Sunday.
Atletico also enjoyed a convincing home victory 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 on target again as Real Madrid made it three wins in a row with a 2-0 success at Villarreal.
Luka Modric broke the deadlock after the half-hour mark with a trademark shot from outside the area.
Ronaldo, who scored four times against Elche on Tuesday, 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'.
Victory left Madrid in fifth place on 12 points, four adrift of Barca.
Two first-half Leo Baptistao goals saw Rayo Vallecano claim an impressive 2-0 victory at Levante to move into the top-half of the table.
While Athletic Bilbao played out a goalless draw against Eibar in the other of the evening's late games.
