Barcelona beats Rayo 4-0 to stay perfect through 5

BARCELONA (AP) ― Pedro Rodriguez scored three goals and Victor Valdes saved another penalty in Barcelona’s 4-0 win at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday, keeping the defending Spanish league champions perfect through five rounds.

Pedro scored from a pass by Lionel Messi in the 33rd minute and added two more goals in the 47th and 72nd after Valdes saved his second penalty in four days following his stop in Wednesday’s 4-0 over Ajax in the Champions League.

The Spain forward has five goals this season, making him the league’s second-leading scorer along with Atletico Madrid’s Diego Costa behind Messi with six.

Cesc Fabregas capped the rout in the 80th with Rayo searching for a consolation goal.

“We knew the difficulties Vallecas Stadium presents, it’s a tough ground to win at,” Pedro said after his first career hat trick for Barcelona. “They have a competitive team, but we were able to find the spaces we needed to score.”

Atletico also got its fifth win in as many rounds to lie level on points with Barcelona after a no-nonsense 2-0 victory at Valladolid.

Atletico’s defense limited Valladolid to one shot on goal while midfielder Raul Garcia and forward Diego Costa both scored goals set up by Jorge “Koke” Resurreccion in the second half.

Moments after goalkeeper Diego Marino saved his header, Garcia scored in the 56th with a no-look header from Koke’s cross that Marino could only watch float over him and into the net.

Koke then lobbed a delicate through ball down the middle of the pitch for Diego Costa to seal the result in the 72nd.

“It was a question of waiting for our moment,” said Atletico coach Diego Simeone. “Valladolid played well in the first half. It didn’t generate scoring chances, but nor did it let us play like we wanted. But we talked about it at halftime and my players had a great response.”

Barcelona and Atletico opened up an overnight five-point advantage over Real Madrid before it hosts Getafe on Sunday. Atletico visits Madrid next round in their first meeting since Atletico beat Madrid in the Copa del Rey final last season.