Zaragoza 2 - Barcelona 4 (La Liga, March 21, 2010) (Longer highlights here.) The incredible Leo Messi needed just four minutes to get on the scoresheet at Zaragoza, the pocket-sized Argentine got on the end of Pedro’s left wing cross to score with a header. In the 65th minute Leo Messi scored yet another dream goal to add to the collection as he picked up possession just inside the Zaragoza half, teased his way past several defenders before coolly firing his shot into the far post. Messi capped a fantastic performance curling home a hat-trick goal (his 8th in four games). The match had a crazy late twist as Adrian Colunga netted in the 87th minute, and Colunga then bagged a second in he 89th. But Barca had their nerves settled in the 91st minute when Zlatan Ibrahimovic ended his recent goal drought with the Catalans fourth from the penalty spot after Messi had been hacked down in the box.

Valencia 2 - Almeria 0 (La Liga, March 21, 2010) Juan Mata opened the scoring on 63 from an awesome through ball by Silva. Seven minutes later David Silva completed the win, scoring from a prone position on the ground.

Mallorca 4 - Atletico Madrid 1 (La Liga, March 21, 2010) Victor Casadesus took advantage of hesitant defending from the visitors to fire the ball into the bottom corner after just ten minutes. Atletico levelled on 26 minutes through Diego Forlan, but Mallorca almost immediately regained their lead as Aritz Aduriz nodded the ball into the top corner. Five minutes later, Atletico’s hopes of fighting back were dealt a blow when Raul Garcia picked up his second booking in the space of seven minutes to take an early bath. Luis Perea’s late own goal merely rubber-stamped the win for the Islanders, and full-back Felipe unleashed a fourth into the top corner to cap another home win for Mallorca.

Osasuna 1 - Racing Santander 3 (La Liga, March 21, 2010) Miguel stooped low in the area to nod home a Juanfran cross, but Osasuna’s lead didn’t last long as Gonzalo Colsa pounced on a loose ball at the edge of the area to unleash a stunning left foot shot into the top corner. Racing took the lead at the beginning of the second half when Christian Fernandez got on the end of a Sergio Canales free-kick. Papa Diop tapped home number three from close range.

Malaga 2 - Villarreal 0 (La Liga, March 21, 2010) Nabil Baha headed home Duda’s corner from close range to give the Andalucians the advantage, and Baha made it two slamming home a Valdo cross to send Villarreal home empty handed.

Real Madrid 3 - Sporting Gijon 1 (La Liga, March 20, 2010) (Longer highlights here.) After a goalless first half at the Bernabeu David Barral put Sporting ahead against Real, but the lead was short-lived as Rafael van der Vaart and Xabi Alonso scored twice in two minutes to turn the match in Madrid’s favour. Real opened up a 2-goal buffer 10 minutes later when Gonzalo Higuain slid home number three.

Espanyol 2 - Sevilla 0 (La Liga, March 20, 2010) Pablo Osvaldo claimed a brace for the home side with a goal in each half to complete a miserable week for Sevilla after their Champions League exit.

Deportivo La Coruna 0 - Valladolid 2 (La Liga, March 20, 2010) Valladolid took the lead five minutes before halftime when Aleman rifled in a fierce drive into the top corner from inside the area. A minute into injury time Haris Medunjanin made it 2-nil when he slotted in a low cross from Diego Costa.

Athletic Bilbao 2 - Getafe 2 (La Liga, March 20, 2010) Bilbao broke the deadlock when Fernando Llorente shook off his marker down the right to tee up Pablo Orbaiz, who curled a well-placed shot past Jordi Codina from 20 yards out. On 32 minutes Los Azulones drew levelled when Manu del Moral picked up a short corner and curled in a hopeful cross-cum-shot on the left flank which sailed past Iraizoz and into the net. 10 minutes from time Athletic regained their lead when Fernando Llorente converted a spot-kick, but it only lasted five minutes as Pedro Leon made it 2-2 after being set up being Miku.

Xerez 2 - Tenerife 1 (La Liga, March 20, 2010) Xerez’s goals came from Mario Bermejo and Aythami Artiles, with Tenerife scoring through Juan Francisco Martinez.

Atletico Madrid 1 - Osasuna 0 (La Liga, March 15, 2010) Atleti were reduced to 10 men when Simao saw red after the break after a second bookable offence, but the Rojiblancos still managed to claim the points through Jurado’s fabulous curler 11 minutes from time.

Valladolid 1 - Real Madrid 4 (La Liga, March 14, 2010) Cristiano Ronaldo cracked home a trademark tomahawk free-kick after 27 minutes at Valladolid. Real doubled their lead just before the interval when Gonzalo Higuain volleyed home a Van der Vaart inswinging free-kick from 3-yards out. Los Blancos went 3-up in the 52nd minute when Alonso’s straight-forward free-kick upfield was flicked on by Ronaldo to Higuain and the Argentine confidently notched his second of the game. The hosts briefly got themselves back in the game when Raul Albiol managed to turn the ball into his own net, Gonzalo Higuain soon restored Real’s 3-goal cushion with his hat-trick goal mopping up a parried shot from Ronaldo.

Barcelona 3 - Valencia 0 (La Liga, March 14, 2010) After 56 minutes Lionel Messi danced into the Valencia box and scored yet another high class individual goal to put Barcelona in front. With just under ten minutes remaining Lionel Messi bagged his second receiving a lofted pass from Henry and firing past Cesar. Seconds later the diminutive Argentine completed his hat-trick to cap yet another fine individual display. (Second and third goals here.)

Villarreal 2 - Xerez 0 (La Liga, March 14, 2010) Ariel Ibagaza slipped the ball through to Joseba Llorente who finished clinically from 12 yards past Chema in the visiting goal. Marcos Senna, Ibagaza and Cani all threatened to extend the lead, but it took until the 90th minute for Damian Escudero to neatly round off the win with a slick left-footed shot.

Almeria 1 - Malaga 0 (La Liga, March 14, 2010) Fernando Soriano pounced on a Santiago Acasiete knock-down to rifle the ball home and leave Malaga reeling, and despite the Andalusian’s best efforts, they could not fight their way back into the contest, registering their third successive defeat in La Liga.

Tenerife 4 - Espanyol 1 (La Liga, March 14, 2010) Richi gave the Canary Islanders the lead before Nino doubled their advantage and, while Espanyol got back into the game through Joan Verdu 20 minutes from time, Alejandro Alfaro and Nino later rounded off a deserved victory in the closing stages.

Racing Santander 0 - Real Zaragoza 0 (La Liga, March 14, 2010) Racing’s search for a first home league win since early January continues after they were held to a goalless draw by relegation rivals Zaragoza.

Sevilla 1 - Deportivo La Coruna 1 (La Liga, March 13, 2010) Federico Fazio had glanced Sevilla in front only for Adrian Lopez to level three minutes later on 24.

Getafe 3 - Mallorca 0 (La Liga, March 13, 2010) Mallorca squandered the chance to climb above Sevilla into fourth place, as goals from Daniel Parejo and Miku and a Manu Del Moral penalty won the points for Getafe.

Sporting Gijon 0 - Athletic Bilbao 0 (La Liga, March 13, 2010) Igor Gabilondo was the villain of the night for Bilbao missing a penalty.

Valencia 0 - Racing Santander 0 (La Liga, March 8, 2010) Valencia dominated large parts of the first half but did not do enough in the creativity department to get themselves in front. Racing came into the game more and more and landed some heavier blows in the second spell of play.