Lionel Messi closed in on Gerd Mueller's scoring mark as Barcelona crushed Athletic Bilbao 5-1 to set a new record for the best ever start to a La Liga season and stay 11 points clear of Real Madrid.

A double by Colombian striker Radamel Falcao inspired Atletico Madrid to a 3-0 win over fellow Spaniards Athletic Bilbao here on Wednesday and their second Europa League trophy in three seasons.

Falc

Barcelona, Dec. 22: Athletic Bilbao ended Barcelona’s 10-game winning streak with a superb defensive performance in a scoreless draw on Tuesday in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey, also known as th

Nov. 21: Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid will have the upper hand for the Clasico showdown at Barcelona’s Camp Nou in nine days time after Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick in a 5-1 home win over Athle