Barcelona 3 - 0 ValenciaTruly great players show up when their team most needs them. Not my words, the words of Marcas Pablo Egea. But how right he is. Lionel Messi proved to the world why he was named World Player of the Year last season, with a hat-trick that oozed class and saved his sides blushes against a battling Valencia. Barcelona had struggled badly in the first half, with David Silva and Pablo Hernandez causing them all sort of problems on the break, and Dealbert majestic in defence. But Barca came out in the second half a different side, lead by that little magician Lionel Messi. His first was unmistakably Messi; waltzing effortlessly past four defenders and stroking the ball nonchantly past Cesar. His second, was equally as pleasing on the eye; cutting in from the right to unleash a devilish left foot curler which crept inside the post. His coupe-de-grace arrived only seconds later as the lively Thierry Henry released the Argentinian who produced a gorgeous dinked shot, with Cesar beaten all ends up. You won't see a finer hattrick all year. Valencia werent helped by an injury to David Albelda early in the second half, who had reduced Xavi and Iniesta to meer bystanders in the first 45 minutes, or by a stuttering Zigic who spurned a glorious chances to level the scores at 1-0. The sending off of Maduro simply sealed their fate. Barca are back in business.
Real Valladolid 1 - 4 Real Madrid
(0-1) 28' Cristiano Ronaldo, (0-2) 45' Higuain, (0-3) 52' Higuain, (1-3) 58' Albiol (o.g), (1-4) 65' Higuain
Real Madrid put their European misery to one side in La Zorilla as they overcame some rough treatment from Real Valladolid to record a win which keeps them at the summit of La Liga. Cristiano fired in a trademark missile of a freekick to put Madrid in the driving seat, although trademark would do the Portuguese winger a huge injustice. What you come to expect from him, few can replicate. Then it was underfire striker Gonzalo Higuain who took over with a sharp hattrick of his own, which has served to banish those dark memories of last week. There will still be those who question his ability on the biggest stage, but there is no doubting his class infront of goal, whoever the opponent. Mejuto Gonzalez added his name to a worryingly growing list of abject refereeing performances of late, missing a blatant stamp on Cristiano Ronaldo by Nivaldo which deserved two reds, and a handball from Sergio Ramos early in the second half that could have signalled his dismissal and a penalty for Valladolid. Raul Albiol scored an unfortunate own goal after the hour mark, but any doubts were lifted by Higuains third and final strike. Top of the league and in no mood to let the only competition they're left in slip.
Villarreal 2 - 0 Xerez
(1-0) 32' Llorente, (2-0) 90' Escudero
Mindnumbing match that saw Villarreal keep themselves in the European hunt and which sees Xerez even closer to La Segunda. The Yellow Submarine controlled the match from start to finish, with the 2-0 scoreline hardly doing justice to their total domination over a resigned Xerez. An eleven point gap has now opened up between Xerez and the team just above the relegation zone, Real Zaragoza, and every defeat is an extra nail in their first division coffin. It seems to have got to the stage where their better players, Momo being a prime example, take it for granted that they'll be snapped up by some Liga club next year, so with their personal topflight survival guaranteed, motivation to save that of their club dwindles. A sad state of affairs. Nestor Gorosito needs to stick with those who put their heart and soul into every minute of every match; the Sidi Keitas and Mario Bermejos of this world. So Villarreal continue their upward march, with Juan Carlos Garrido proving a shrewd managerial signing. Joseba Llorentes first was pure predator, whilst Escuderos last gasp second, rewarded those who had stayed it out.
Tenerife 4 - 1 Espanyol
(1-0) 20' Richi, (2-0) 49' Nino, (2-1) 70' Verdu, (3-1) 82' Alfaro, (4-1) 90' Nino
Racing Santander 0 - 0 Real Zaragoza
Almeria 1 - 0 Malaga
(1-0) 59' Soriano