Soccer

Lionel Messi scores on his return as Barcelona roll over Deportivo

La Liga round-up: Atletico stay top after 7-1 win over Granada; Real hammer Betis 6-1

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi fires home past Deportivo La Coruna goalkeeper German Lux during the La Liga at the Nou Camp. Photograph: Albert Gea/Reuters
Barcelona’s Lionel Messi fires home past Deportivo La Coruna goalkeeper German Lux during the La Liga at the Nou Camp. Photograph: Albert Gea/Reuters
Sun Oct 16 2016 - 10:46

La Liga round-up: Atletico Madrid maintained top spot in LA Liga after hammering Granada 7-1 at the Estadio Vicente Calderon on Saturday.

They lead city rivals Real, who ended a run of four successive draws by beating Real Betis 6-1 in Seville, on goal difference, while Barcelona sit two points further back after they were 4-0 winners at home to Deportivo La Coruna.

It started badly for Diego Simeone’s Atletico side as Isaac Cuenca gave rock-bottom Granada a shock lead with a smart 18th-minute volley but the hosts charged back thanks to a Yannick Carrasco hat-trick.

Substitute Nico Gaitan hooked home a fourth with his first touch after replacing Kevin Gameiro and drilled in a second with nine minutes to go. There was still time for Angel Correa and Tiago to get on the scoresheet as Atletico ripped their opponents apart in the second half.

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Real Madrid tore through Betis with a great counter-attacking display. Isco, who barely featured in the opening weeks of the season under Zinedine Zidane, scored their fourth and fifth goals, the first a tap-in after an end-to-end break and the second a sublime curler.

Raphael Varane put them in front in the fourth minute, Karim Benzema (32) added a second and Marcelo scuffed in the third from an offside position six minutes before the break.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who still looks way short of top form, scored just his second La Liga goal of the season with 12 minutes left to complete the scoring, with Alvaro Cejudo getting Betis’ only goal.

Earlier Lionel Messi had marked his return to the Barcelona team with the final goal in their comprehensive victory over Depor.

Rafinha’s brace set them on the right path and Luis Suarez’s sixth La Liga goal of the season just before the break left the Galicians with only pride to play for in the second half.

Messi’s introduction in the 55th minute was well received and he justified the enthusiasm by rifling in a Neymar pass from an acute angle.

Pablo Sarabia was Sevilla's match-winner as they defeated Leganes 3-2 in the first match of the day.

Jorge Sampaoli's side appeared to be in cruise control with goals either side of half-time from Franco Vazquez and Samir Nasri, but the promoted side from the Madrid suburbs fought back.

David Timor made it 2-1 in the 67th minute and Alexander Szymanowski equalised two minutes later, but substitute Sarabia snatched Sevilla's fifth win in eight games with five minutes to go to leave them third.