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Barcelona put cup defeat behind them and return to winning ways

European round-up : SPANISH PRIMERA LIGA Barcelona returned to winning ways yesterday with a 3-0 victory at second from bottom…

Mon Jan 30 2006 - 00:00

European round-up: SPANISH PRIMERA LIGA Barcelona returned to winning ways yesterday with a 3-0 victory at second from bottom Real Mallorca to go 12 points clear at the top of the table.

Frank Rijkaard's side suffered their first defeat in 25 games when they lost 4-2 at Real Zaragoza in the King's Cup on Thursday. Champions Barcelona bounced back to make it 14 consecutive wins in the league against a robust Mallorca after Ludovic Giuly opened the scoring before the break.

Argentine striker Lionel Messi came off the bench to make sure of the points with two goals after Giuly opened the scoring in Mallorca.

Barcelona have 52 points from 21 games. Second-placed Valencia are on 40 points after they scored twice in the last seven minutes to earn a 2-2 draw at home to Zaragoza.

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Zaragoza took control with goals from Sergio Garcia and Ewerthon but the dismissal of David Generelo and the introduction of Valencia striker Patrick Kluivert in the second half turned the game. The Dutchman pulled a goal back in the 83rd

minute and set up the second, a header by Pablo Aimar six minutes later.

Real Madrid, on 39 points, are third after defeating Celta Vigo 2-1 away last night.

Robinho opened the scoring in the 17th minute before Lequi equalised five minutes before the break. With 12 minutes gone in the second half gone, Cicinho struck for the decisive gaol.

Fourth-placed Osasuna, also on 39 points, continued to drop off the pace after their first home league defeat this season, 2-0 against Real Betis.

ITALIAN SERIE A David Trezeguet hit a hat-trick in the first 18 minutes for leaders Juventus in a 3-1 victory at Ascoli yesterday.

The reigning champions now have 59 points from 22 matches, eight ahead of Inter Milan who won 2-0 at bottom club Lecce. AC Milan are third on 47 after a 1-1 draw with Sampdoria on Saturday.

Trezeguet opened the scoring in the eighth minute, his second came five minutes later when he turned Mauro Camoranesi's low cross in.

Alessandro Del Piero created the third, running down the left before curling a perfectly-weighted cross into the box for Trezeguet to finish.

Ascoli pulled one back in the 33rd minute when Gianluca Commotto broke down the right and cut the ball back for Marco Ferrante to blast past Gianluigi Buffon.

Lecce sacked coach Silvio Baldini last week but they made Inter work until the 72nd minute when Luis Figo scored with a right-footed shot from inside the area. Dejan Stankovic wrapped up Inter's win in stoppage time, firing in from 20 metres.

Fourth-placed Fiorentina (44) lost more ground on the leaders when they drew 0-0 at 10-man Udinese.