Ronaldo, Messi light up La Liga

MADRID (AP): Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi lit up the Spanish League with goals yesterday as Ronaldo scored four times to lead Real Madrid, after Messi tormented Zaragoza with a brace.

While Gonzalo Higuain started Madrid's 6-1 thrashing of Racing Santander, Ronaldo went on to score four for the first time in his career inside a 40-minute span, to take his season-leading tally to 10 and keep Madrid top of the standings with 20 points.

Barcelona was next with 19 points after Messi scored either side of half-time in a 2-0 win at last-place Zaragoza, which has become one of the Argentina forward's favourite venues.

Messi followed up last season's hat-trick at La Romareda Stadium with another dominant display. It started in the 42nd minute when David Villa drew four defenders with a run before slipping to Messi, who was alone on goalkeeper Antonio Doblas to score with a left-footed shot.

loose ball

Zaragoza were reduced to 10 men from the 47th after Leonardo Ponzio received a red card. Messi took advantage by shooting a loose ball past Doblas in the 66th.

"That's Leo - today and always," coach Pep Guardiola said. "He's a goalscorer."

While Messi led a lacklustre Barcelona to victory, Madrid picked right up from a convincing midweek win over AC Milan.

Higuain timed his run perfectly to reach Angel Di Maria's long ball alone on goal, controlling before slotting a low shot under keeper Antonio Rodriguez 10 minutes in.

Ronaldo skirted between two defenders to guide home Higuain's pass in the 15th and the Portugal forward made it 3-0 in the 27th after Mesut Oezil found him streaking across the front of goal to redirect home.

The festive atmosphere at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium continued in the 47th as Ronaldo controlled Di Maria's centering pass at the edge of the box to curl around Rodriguez into goal.

Ronaldo scored his fourth with a penalty kick in the 55th.

"The last time I scored four goals in a game was when I played in juvenile league," Ronaldo told Canal Plus TV.

Oezil added the last from another breakout eight minutes later as Racing's defensive shortcomings were further exposed when the Germany playmaker capped a smart run with a curling shot into goal.

Racing scored in the 73rd when Papa Diop's long-range shot deflected off Markus Rosenberg to catch goalie Iker Casillas offguard.

In today's games, it's Getafe vs Sporting Gijon; Almeria vs Hercules; Osasuna vs Malaga; Espanyol vs Levante; Sevilla vs Athletic Bilbao; and Villarreal vs Atletico Madrid.

Deportivo La Coruna will look for their first win of the season today at Real Sociedad.