Real Madrid beat Zaragoza 4-0 but remain eight points behind record-breaking Barcelona, who won 3-1 against Celta Vigo to go three points ahead of the pack in the Primera Liga. Real's Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Maria struck in a two-minute blitz midway through the first half, while Michael Essien and Luka Modric added another two late on but it will be difficult to claw back the Catalan side, who have made their best start to a season. Barcelona now have nine wins and a draw, which beats their previous record by Louis van Gaal's 1997-98 side. AFP
Neymar scored a hat-trick to lead Santos to a 4-0 win at Cruzeiro in the Brazilian championship, where his performance earned him a standing ovation from the home supporters. The 20-year-old took his tally to 12 goals in the competition even though he has missed a number of games. "I'm overcome, it makes me want to cry," Neymar said after Cruzeiro fans, who had initially booed their own team, chanted his name and applauded him off the pitch. Reuters