Barcelona, Madrid win in Spanish league

Lionel Messi scored twice and Ludovic Giuly once as FC Barcelona romped over undermanned Mallorca 3-0 and moved 12 points clear in the Spanish league on Sunday.

Barcelona have 52 points, well clear of Valencia which slipped in a 2-2 draw with Zaragoza.

Real Madrid beat Celta Vigo 2-1 and rose to third on 39, ahead of Osasuna on goal difference.

Osasuna's 18-match unbeaten run at home was ended by a 2-1 loss to Real Betis.

Giuly used Deco's pass to give Barcelona a 39th-minute lead, and the team took advantage of an extra man when Mallorca defender Eduardo Tuzzio was ejected in the 72nd for two yellow cards. Three minutes later, Messi, in as a second-half substitute, sliced through the defense and put the ball into the back of the net. The Argentine forward could have added another two minutes later but shot high in front of an open goal.

With eight minutes left, Ronaldinho passed to Messi and the teenager lobbed goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya for his second goal. However, Ronaldinho and Edmilson were both given yellow cards and will miss the next match against Atletico Madrid. Against Celta, Real Madrid striker Robinho hit a low shot into goal in the 18th from a cross by fellow Brazilian forward Julio Baptista.

Celta's Angel Lopez then crossed to fellow defender Matias Lequi, who headed powerfully into goal for the equalizer just before halftime, when Thomas Gravesen came off with a cut to his left knee and was substituted by Jonathan Woodgate.

A well-timed pass by Baptista gave Robinho a shot on goal which Celta keeper Jose Manuel Pinto parried only to have Madrid midfielder Cicinho pounce on it for his first goal of the season in the 57th.

Late goals by Patrick Kluivert and Pablo Aimar gave Valencia the draw against visiting Real Zaragoza.

Zaragoza hit Valencia twice with goals from counterattacks. Sergio Garcia tapped in in the 44th and Brazilian striker Ewerthon did the same in the 64th.

Zaragoza midfielder David Generelo was ejected in the 81st and, two minutes later, Kluivert hit a powerful shot to get a goal back. Argentina striker Aimar equalized in the 90th with a header from an assist by Kluivert.

Betis snapped Osasuna's home winning streak through a powerful Luis Fernandez shot in the 34th, and Edu Schmidt's header in the 60th.

Goals by Luis Fabiano and Frederic Kanoute gave Sevilla a 2-0 win over Villarreal.

Luis Fabiano scored his second goal this season in the 30th with a right-footed chip. Villarreal midfielder Josico Moreno was then ejected for a second yellow card in the 45th and, 13 minutes later, Kanoute scored with a powerful volley.

Raul Tamudo scored twice to help Espanyol over Malaga 3-1. Tamudo headed a goal in the 10th from a free kick by Ivan de la Pena and could have scored again seven minutes later when Malaga goalkeeper Francesc Arnau saved his penalty. The Espanyol captain did better in the 21st when he guided a descending ball into the net. Luis Garcia chested a ball down on the edge of the penalty area and hit it into the net for Espanyol's third in the 32nd. Alexis pulled one back for Malaga in the 40th from long range. Australia striker John Aloisi's goals in the 58th and 85th secured Alaves a 3-1 win over Real Sociedad.

A shot by Sergio Carpintero in the 33rd cleared a crowded penalty area to open the scoring for Alaves. Dalibor Stevanovic pulled one back for Real Sociedad from the edge of the box in the 90th. On Saturday, Cadiz drew 1-1 with Racing Santander; Athletic Bilbao won 1-0 against Getafe, and Atletico Madrid beat Deportivo La Coruna 3-2.

First Published: Jan 30, 2006 11:54 IST