Lionel Messi scored a sensational hat-trick to take his season's tally to 22 goals as Barcelona returned to the top of the Spanish Primera Liga with a 3-0 home victory over 10-man Valencia on Sunday. Argentine Messi showed why he is regarded as the world's best player with three terrific individual second-half goals earning him a standing ovation ...

Werder Bremen moved a step closer to a European place for next season when their ex-Chelsea striker Claudio Pizarro scored a late goal to seal their 1-0 win at Hoffenheim on Sunday. Bremen were heading to a 0-0 draw before Pizarro popped up in the 81st-minute to mark his 100th Bundesliga appearance by lobbing Hoffenheim goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand. It was ...

Lyon get back to league action against local rivals Saint-Etienne on Saturday after their 2-1 aggregate win over Spanish giants Real Madrid in the Champions League in mid-week. The seven-time champions are just two points off leaders Bordeaux, who lost 2-1 at home to Auxerre on Wednesday, and will be looking to build upon their headline-grabbing heroics at the Santiago ...

Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini, who is under intense pressure after the club's shattering Champions League exit, desperately needs a La Liga win at lowly Valladolid on Sunday to prevent the axe from falling. Real, stunned by Lyon in the Champions League last 16 stage, are only ahead of Barcelona on goal difference, and Pellegrini knows that his expensive ...