Spanish La Liga

Lionel Messi scored for the sixth consecutive game to help Barcelona to a 3-0 win over Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou in the Primera Liga yesterday.

Messi scored in the 19th minute, just three minutes after Deco had opened the scoring when he capitalised on a goalkeeping error by back-up Christian Abbiati.

Xavi Hernandez added a third in injury-time.

The Catalan side are second with 17 points. Their fierce rivals Real Madrid stayed top of the standings with two more points after beating Recreativo Huelva 2-0 with second-half goals from Ruud van Nistelrooy and Gonzalo Higuain.

Villarreal remain in third on 15 points despite losing 3-2 to Osasuna. Valencia, who were beaten 2-1 by Espanyol at home on Saturday, are also on 15 points.

Deportivo La Coruna handed Sevilla their fourth straight defeat with Ivan Sanchez Riki scoring the only goal of the game at Estadio La Cartujain in the 73rd minute.

In other seventh-round games yesterday, Mallorca rallied to beat Getafe 4-2, and Ricardo Oliveira scored twice to lead Zaragoza over Levante 3-0. Also, Almeria had a 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao, while Murcia and Real Betis finished 0-0.

In last night's late game Racing Santander had a 2-0 home victory over Valladolid.

Meanwhile, striker David Villa is a serious doubt for Spain's Euro 2008 qualifier against Denmark next Saturday after injuring his left ankle during Valencia's defeat to Espanyol in the Primera Liga on Saturday.

Spanish radio station Onda Cero reported that Villa had suffered an intermediate ligament strain which would put him out of action for between two and three weeks.

Spain are second in Group F, level on 19 points with Sweden who have played a game less. Northern Ireland are third with 16 points and Denmark, who have a game in hand, are fourth with 14.