Xavi double takes Barça top

Xavi double takes Barça top

FC Barcelona climbed to the top of the Liga with a 4-1 win away to Málaga CF, replacing Valencia CF at the summit after Mohamed Tchité's hat-trick for Real Racing Club inflicted a first league defeat of the season on Unai Emery's early pacesetters.

Xavi double

It was Barcelona's eleventh straight victory and their seventh successive triumph in the Liga, the pouring rain on Spain's Costa del Sol failing to dampen the spirits of Josep Guardiola's side as they turned on the style on a sodden pitch. Xavi Hernández opened the scoring with a brilliant free-kick after five minutes and though Duda pulled one back for the hosts eight minutes later, Lionel Messi soon restored Barça's lead with 19 minutes played. A second Xavi strike, set up by Thierry Henry's cushioned header eight minutes after the restart, and an own goal from Welington with eight minutes to play completed the rout.

Tchité treble

Victory took the Catalans top on 22 points, with Valencia dropping down to third, two points behind, after a surprise defeat at the Mestalla. Congolose striker Tchité served an early warning with a long-range drive to put Racing Club ahead on 23 minutes and although David Villa restored parity from the penalty spot six minutes later with his league-leading tenth goal of the campaign, Racing were soon back in front, Tchité hitting his second four minutes after the interval. Joaquín hit back for the home side with 20 minutes to play, only for Tchité to strike again ten minutes after that. David Albelda's late own goal rounded off the scoring.

Villarreal second

Villarreal CF are now the only side still undefeated and they won in the Liga for the first time in three attempts, 4-1 at Athletic Club Bilbao. Giuseppe Rossi (24) Robert Pirès (53) Santi Cazorla (59) and Jozy Altidore (90) got the goals for Manuel Pelligrini's side who climb to second, one point behind Barcelona. In the night's other match, Sergio Agüero scored twice as Club Atlético de Madrid won 2-0 at home to RCD Mallorca. The 20-year-old's opening goal on 14 minutes was brilliant, Agüero controlling a Diego Forlán header with his left foot before releasing a right-foot shot over Miguel Moyá in the Mallorca goal. Among Sunday's matches, Real Madrid CF are away to UD Almería.

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