Barca thrash Zaragoza to go three points clear

MADRID: Seydou Keita hit a hat-trick and Zlatan Ibrahimovic netted twice to lead Barcelona to a 6-1 thrashing of Real Zaragoza and send the La Liga champions three points clear of Real Madrid on Sunday.

Real and Barca both lost in Europe in midweek but after a depleted Madrod side drew 0-0 at Sporting Gijon on Saturday, Pep Guardiola's team grabbed its chance to pull emphatically away at the top of the standings.

Barca have 22 points from eight matches to Real's 19, and Sevilla remain in third, three points further back after being held to a 0-0 draw at home by Espanyol on Saturday.