Two more for Messi

Leonel Messi hits another two as Barcelona refuse to slip up, hotly chased by Atlético and with Real Madrid winning all the games.  In Russia, CSKA remain in front after Zenit's unsavoury incident at Dinamo; Manchester City now leads the Premier League and in France, all change.

Premier League 12 games

Now it's City (28), over United (27), Chelsea (24) and West Bromwich Albion (23), enjoying their best season ever so far in the Premiership. Manchester City compounded Aston Villa's problems with a 5-0 win; United went down at Norwich City 1-0, West Brom beat Chelsea 2-1.

La Liga 12 games

Barcelona (34) three points ahead of Atlético (31) and eight ahead of Real Madrid (26) whose bad start to the season, for now, continues to haunt Mourinho's team. Barça received and beat Zaragoza 3-1 (two more from Messi), Atlético beat Granada 1-0 away; Real Madrid slammed Athletic Bilbao 5-1.

Serie A 13 Games

Fiorentina joins the leaders, equal on points (27) with Napoli and behind Inter (28) and Juventus (32). Juve had a goalless home draw with Lazio; Inter drew at home two apiece with Cagliari; Naples had the same result with AC Milan and Fiorentina jumps into the top four with a 4-1 victory over Atalanta.

Bundesliga 12 games

Still Bayern (31), Schalke and Eintracht (23). Bayern got a draw this time against Nürnberg away (0-0); Schalke lost 2-0 at Bayer Leverkusen and Eintracht won at home 4-2 against Augsburg.

Ligue 1 13 games

Changes at the top in France. Defeats for PSG and Marseille see Lyon (25 points) go top with a victory over Reims (3-0) as Bordeaux (24) enters the pack with a 1-0 win over Marseille (23). PSG (23) is now fourth after losing at home to Rennes 1-2.

Russian Premier League 16 games

CSKA Moskva (39) 3-0 winner at home against Amkar; Anzhi Makhachkala (34), goalless home draw against Rostov; Zenit St. Petersburg (33)one game in hand after the game at Dinamo Moskva was abandoned after an idiot threw a cracker onto the field.

Portuguese Premier League 9 games

FC Porto (23 points) ahead of Benfica on goal difference, Braga in third place (17 points). All three teams progressed in the fourth round of the Portuguese Cup this weekend.

In the Ukrainian premier, Shakhtar Donetsk loses for the first time, against Arsenal Kyiv 2-0.

Timothy Bancroft-Hinchey

Pravda.Ru