Messi, Ronaldo bag hat tricks

BARCELONA (AP) ― Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo each scored his second hat trick of the season, leading Barcelona and Real Madrid to victories in the Spanish league on Saturday night following draws in midweek.

Messi scored on brilliant individual moves in the 26th and 78th minutes, and added a goal in second-half stoppage time, leading Barcelona over visiting Atletico Madrid 5-0. Messi also forced an own-goal by Miranda in the 15th, six minutes after David Villa had put Barcelona ahead.

Messi left a trio of defenders flatfooted as he used two sleek changes of direction on his first goal, dribbled across the front of the area and left behind a swarm of defenders before an angled shot for the second, then finished off a pass from Villa for the third.

Although just 24 years old, Messi has 127 league goals and 192 overall for Barcelona, moving within four of Laszlo Kubala for second on the club career list in both categories. Cesar Rodriguez leads with 195 in the league and 235 overall.

At Madrid, Ronaldo scored in the 39th minute and converted penalty kicks in the 51st and 84th to help Real defeat Rayo Vallecano 6-2. Gonzalo Higuain, Raphael Varane and Karim Benzema also scored for the hosts.

England

Peter Crouch scored on a header in the 57th minute, giving Stoke a 1-1 tie with visiting Manchester United and ending the Red Devils’ perfect start to the Premier League season.

Nani scored in the 27th minute for Man United, which was without injured forward Wayne Rooney. Manager Alex Ferguson said Rooney, who leads the EPL with nine goals, will be sidelined more than a week because of a hamstring injury.

Crouch’s goal was his first since Stoke bought him from Tottenham for a club record transfer of $15.5 million last month.

Man United and rival Manchester City are both 5-0-1, but United remains first on goal difference.

City defeated visiting Everton 2-0, getting second-half goals from substitutes Mario Balotelli and James Milner against American goalkeeper Tim Howard.

Chelsea (4-1-1) is three points back after beating visiting Swansea 4-1.

Italy

The two Milan teams finally won their first matches of the season in Serie A.

Inter Milan ended its five-match winless streak in all competitions, winning 3-1 at Bologna in the team’s first match after coach Gian Piero Gasperini was fired and replaced by Claudio Ranieri.

Germany

Bayern Munich maintained its Bundesliga lead, winning 3-0 at home against Bayer on goals by Thomas Mueller in the fifth minute, Daniel van Buyten in the 19th and Arjen Robben in the 90th.