LONDON (AP) — Living up to the clasico billing, Lionel Messi upstaged Cristiano Ronaldo on his own turf to reassert Barcelonas title credentials on Sunday. Messi scored a hat trick, including two penalties, as Barca won 4-3 in an entertaining and at times controversial encounter at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium where the hosts finished with 10 men. And having been written off too early in its title defense, Barca is now just a point behind Madrid rivals Atletico and Real at the top. The match took top billing in Europe on Sunday. Here is a look at the action from the leading leagues: ___ SPAIN The pulsating match of the day began with Andres Iniesta powering Barcelona in front after seven minutes, only for Karim Benzemas brace to put Real Madrid in control. Although Messi slotted in an equalizer before halftime, Ronaldo re-established Madrids lead with a 55th-minute penalty. But Messi eclipsed the man who deposed him as world player of the year by netting twice from the spot, including the equalizer after Sergio Ramos was sent off. Messis second straight hat trick put him second on the Spanish leagues all-time scoring list with 235 goals, passing Hugo Sanchez. ___ ITALY Juventus maintained its charge to a third successive Serie A title as Carlos Tevez clinched a 1-0 win at Catania to restore a 14-point lead over Roma, which has a game in hand. Catanias hopes of a leveler were hampered after Gonzalo Bergessio was dismissed following a second booking in the 67th minute. Earlier, Fiorentina snatched a late 1-0 win at 10-man Napoli to boost its chances of sneaking into the Champions League. Inter Milan is four points further back after a last-minute goal consigned it to a 2-1 loss at home to Atalanta. Parma is level, but with a game in hand, after it drew 1-1 with Genoa in the lunchtime kickoff. ___ ENGLAND The weekend produced 42 goals in the Premier League, including 10 in Sundays two games. With Tottenham trailing 2-0 to Southampton, Christian Eriksen scored twice before setting up Gylfi Sigurdssons stoppage-time goal to complete a 3-2 win. The victory kept Tottenham in touch with the Champions League places, six points behind fourth-placed Arsenal. Stoke climbed above Aston Villa into 10th place after coming from behind to win 4-1 at Villa Park. Peter Odemwingie, Peter Crouch, Steven Nzonzi and Geoff Cameron scored the goals that gave Stoke a first away win in the league since August. ___ GERMANY Hoffenheim consigned Bayer Leverkusen to an eight loss in nine games in all competitions by winning 3-2 in the Bundesliga. Leverkusen was once second but now sits fourth, just two points ahead of Borussia Moenchengladbach in the last Champions League qualification place. Eintracht Frankfurt handed Nuremberg its fourth straight loss, winning 5-2 to ease its relegation fears while leaving the hosts in the drop zone. ___ FRANCE Monaco lost ground on league leader Paris Saint-Germain by drawing 1-1 with Lille to fall 10 points behind. Lille stayed in third place, nine points behind Monaco. Fourth-place Saint-Etienne beat lowly Sochaux 3-1 and Lyon kept pace with Saint-Etienne in the race for a European spot by defeating Guingamp 1-0.
Posted on: Sun, 23 Mar 2014 23:23:46 +0000
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