MADRID: Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi lit up the Spanish league with goals Saturday 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 halftime in a 2-0 win at last-place Zaragoza, which has become one of the Argentina forward's favorite 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. Zaragoza was 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 lackluster 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 centering 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. Ozil 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. At Zaragoza, Barcelona struggled without playmaker Xavi Hernandez with Messi carrying the offense with several chances before Villa sprung him loose for the opening goal. Braulio Rodriguez weakly shot at Victor Valdes after being played clear on goal by Angel Lafita in the 19th for Zaragoza's best chance. Zaragoza, which appears set for another season-long relegation fight, was handicapped when Ponzio lashed out at Daniel Alves. Zaragoza never really recovered from the Argentine's exit and Barcelona nearly took advantage in the 61st but Doblas saved Messi's close-range shot. Doblas couldn't do much to stop the second as Messi pounced on the rebound from a Seydou Keita strike. While Messi excelled, Villa continued to be frustrated over his inability to find the net despite plenty of chances. The Spain striker hit an angled shot off the near post in the 87th in his worst start to a season in seven years. Last-place Zaragoza remained winless through eight games, placing further pressure on under-fire coach Jose Aurelio Gay. Valencia was beaten 2-1 by Mallorca in the late match. It has 16 points alongside Villarreal. Fiorentina beats Bari In Milan, Fiorentina recorded only its second win of the Serie A season in a 2-1 home result over Bari Saturday. The victory lifts Sinisa Mihajlovic's team out of the relegation zone, albeit until the completion of Sunday's fixtures. Fiorentina and Bari are 15th and 16th in the standings with eight points each, but both could be in the relegation zone if results go against them Sunday. Marco Donadel gave the host the lead in the 34th and Alberto Gilardino wrapped up the result with eight minutes remaining. Alessandro Parisi scored a late consolation for Bari, and Fiorentina came close to adding another goal but Gilardino dithered with the empty net at his mercy.
