Published : Oct. 21, 2012 - 18:48
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates his goal on Saturday. (AP-Yonhap News)
MADRID (AP) ― Lionel Messi scored his first hat trick of the season and Cesc Fabregas set up three goals as Barcelona survived Javier Mascherano’s ejection and won 5-4 at Deportivo La Coruna in the Spanish league on Saturday.
Fabregas set up Jordi Alba’s goal in the third minute, then passed to Cristian Tello for an eighth-minute goal and to Messi for a 3-0 lead in the 18th.
Luis Pizzi’s penalty kick in the 26th and Alex Bergantinos’ goal in the 37th pulled the hosts to 3-2, but Messi scored again in the 43rd.
Pizzi cut the gap to 4-3 in the 47th, and Mascherano received his second yellow card two minutes later for a foul on Riki. Messi hit the crossbar inthe 51st, dribbled through the defense to score in the 77th for his first hat trick this season and 21st for Barcelona.
Two minutes later, Alba lobbed the ball over Victor Valdes for an own goal.
“It was a crazy game in every way,” Fabregas said. “We are happy to get the three points after a long international week. We take away our good first half, but those four goals show we have room to improve.”
Messi has 15 goals this season, including a league-leading 11. Barcelona (7-0-1) leads second-place Atletico Madrid (6-0-1) by three points and is eight points ahead of Real Madrid (4-2-2).
England
Chelsea maintained its strong Premier League start by winning 4-2 at Tottenham to preserve a four-point lead over Manchester United and Manchester City.
Juan Mata scored twice between goals by Gary Cahill and Daniel Sturridge as the Blues (7-0-1) overcame a 2-1 deficit and rallied against Spurs and American goalkeeper Brad Friedel. William Gallas and Jermain Defoe scored for Tottenham.
After putting Manchester United (6-2) behind with an 11th-minute own goal, Wayne Rooney scored twice in a 4-2 win over visiting Stoke. Rooney tied the score in the 27th minute and also scored United’s final goal in the 65th, with Robin Van Persie and Danny Welbeck scoring in between, with Welbeck eluding American defender Geoff Cameron. Michael Kightly scored for Stoke.
Manchester City (5-0-3) rallied for a 2-1 win at West Bromwich Albion on goals by substitute Edin Dzeko in the 80th minute and the second minute of stoppage time. Arsenal lost 1-0 at Norwich, which gained its first win of the season on Grant Holt’s 19th-minute goal.
Raheem Sterling scored in the 29th minute at Anfield in a 1-0 victory over Reading and at 17 years, 317 days became the club’s second-youngest Premier League scorer behind Michael Owen. West Ham routed Southampton 4-1, Swansea beat Wigan 2-1 and Fulham edged Aston Villa 1-0.
Italy
Defending champion Juventus needed goals from substitutes Martin Caceres in the 80th minute and 19-year-old Paul Pogba in the 82nd for a 2-0 win over second-place Napoli that extended its Serie A unbeaten streak to 47 matches.
Juventus (7-0-1) opened a three-point lead over Napoli (6-1-1).
Lazio (6-2) is four points off the lead in third following a 3-2 win over struggling AC Milan (2-5-1).
Germany
Defending champion Borussia Dortmund slumped to a 2-1 loss at home to bitter rival Schalke in the 141st Ruhr derby, while Bayern Munich became the first team to start a Bundesliga season with eight straight wins.
Ibrahim Afellay opened the scoring in the 14th minute, when he crashed a low shot in off the left post.