Messi double as Barcelona set the pace

AppId is over the quota AppId is over the quota Lionel Messi celebrates yet another goal in the 3-0 win over Racing Santander.Barcelona stay top of Spain's La Liga with easy 3-0 home win over Racing Santander Lionel Messi scores twice to take his season's tally to 16Gonzalo Higuian scores a hat-trick as Real Madrid beat Real Betis 4-1Inter Milan slip to defeat in Serie A and have four points from six games

(CNN) -- Lionel Messi scored twice as Barcelona beat Racing Santander 3-0 in the Nou Camp Saturday night to stay top of Spain's La Liga.

Messi, hoping for a third consecutive home hat-trick, opened the scoring for Barca in the 11th minute and rounded it off in the 68th. He might have added a further goal but had a strong penalty appeal turned down in the second half.

The Argentine ace now has 16 in another free-scoring season.

Midfielder Xavi scored the second midway through the opening half as the reigning Spanish and European champions cruised to victory against the struggling visitors.

The only blot on their victory was an early injury to central defender Gerard Pique, who has been troubled by a foot problem and limped off after just three minutes to be replaced by Eric Abidal.

They stayed a point clear of arch-rivals Real Madrid, who earlier Saturday beat Real Betis 4-1 with Messi's international teammate Gonzalo Higuain grabbing his second hat-trick in a week.

Higuain, who also scored three for Argentina in a World Cup qualifying victory against Chile, made the breakthrough after the break, set up by Cristiano Ronaldo, playing his 100th match for Real.

Brazilian star Kaka, returning to his best, grabbed the second before Jorge Molina pulled a goal back for Betis.

Higuian quickly made it 3-1 and then completed his hat-trick, both on passes from Angel Di Maria to snuff out any hope of a recovery by the visitors.

Valencia missed out on joining Real Madrid on 16 points after being held 1-1 in Mallorca, while Villarreal warmed up for their crucial Champions League game against Manchester City Tuesday with a 0-0 draw at Getafe.

In Italy, Inter Milan's appalling start to the season continued as they were beaten 2-1 at Catania, leaving them with just four points from six Serie A games this season.

Inter took an early lead through Esteban Cambiasso but Catania hit back with two goals in four minutes at the start of the second half.

Sergio Almiron equalized and Francesco Lodi hit the winner from the penalty spot.

Inter's poor results meant the end of Gian Piero Gasperini short reign, but new coach Claudio Ranieri is also finding positive results difficult to come by.

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Van Persie double gives Arsenal precious win

AppId is over the quota AppId is over the quota Robin Van Persie celebrates his opening goal for Arsenal at the Emirates in the 2-1 win over Sunderland.Arsenal beat Sunderland 2-1 at Emirates to move into top half of EPLTwo superb goals from Robin van Persie give Arsenal three points Tottenham held 2-2 at Newcastle in top six clash at St Jamess ParkJuventus still top Italy Serie A after goalless draw against Chievo

(CNN) -- Robin van Persie scored early and late in the game to secure a 2-1 victory for his struggling Arsenal team over Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium Sunday.

The Dutch international's opener after just 31 seconds was the quickest in their English Premier League history but it needed his curling free kick with 10 minutes to go to grab the three points.

Sunderland, struggling just above the relegation zone, weathered the early storm before equalizing with a virtuoso free kick from former Gunner Sebastian Larsson in the 31st minute.

But Arsenal were the better side in the first half and got their reward when top scorer Van Persie struck again.

Manager Arsene Wenger used his program notes to dispel rumors that Van Persie would be leaving in the next transfer window and the player himself told Sky Sports after the match that he was "committed" to Arsenal.

The victory lifts them into top half of the table for the first time this season, but they still trail leaders Manchester City by 12 points.

Tottenham beat Arsenal in the north London derby game before the international break and were held later Sunday 2-2 at Newcastle.

Tottenham, bidding for their fifth straight league win, twice led through a Rafael van der Vaart penalty just before halftime and then substitute Jermain Defoe's clinical strike.

But Ibrahim Ba and substitute Shola Ameobi twice pulled them back and it was Newcastle, unbeaten this season, who were pressing at the end.

They stay in fourth place, with Tottenham in sixth having played a game less.

In the other game played Sunday, West Bromwich Albion pulled clear of the relegation zone with a 2-0 Black Country derby win over Wolves, who have lost five straight.

There was a goal drought in Italy's Serie A as only one of 12 teams in action in the afternoon fixtures Sunday managed to score .

Juventus were held 0-0 at Chievo and Udinese, who finished with 10 men, failed to score at Atalanta.

The results left Juve ahead of Udinese at the top on goals scored.

The only positive result came at Novara where visitors Bologna won 2-0 to move off the bottom.

In German Bundesliga action, struggling Hamburg scored only the second win of their campaign with a 2-1 victory at Freiburg.

Hamburg stay bottom, just behind FC Augsburg, but secured three points through goals from Korean Heung Min Son and Ivo Ilicevic with a penalty.

Papiss Cisse equalized for the home side but missed a late penalty for a second leveler.

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