Lionel Messi stars for Barcelona, Romelu Lukaku sends Inter Milan top
Lionel Messi scored two goals and set up two more as Barcelona thrashed Real Valladolid 5-1 to move top of La Liga.
Ernesto Valverde’s side ran out comfortable winners at the Camp Nou, where Saturday’s Clasico against Real Madrid was due to be played before it was postponed until December because of political tension.
The unstoppable Messi teed up Arturo Vidal with a magical pass for the Chilean to put the hosts 2-1 ahead after Kiko Olivas cancelled out Clement Lenglet’s early deflected opener.
Atletico substitute Alvaro Morata scored his third goal in three games to fire them ahead in the 70th minute as Diego Simeone’s team struggled to find top form at Mendizorroza.
Alaves’ Fernando Pacheco made fine saves to deny Spain striker Morata a second and foil Angel Correa before Perez cut in from the right and lashed a thunderbolt into the top corner.
Atletico are second after 11 games, level on 20 points with Granada, who face Getafe on Thursday.
Serie A: Lukaku sends Inter top
A stunning strike by Romelu Lukaku gave Inter Milan a 2-1 win at Brescia.
The win took Inter back to the top of Serie A, at least for 24 hours until Juventus, who are two points behind, host Genoa on Wednesday.
Inter went ahead with a fortuitous goal from Lautaro Martinez, whose strike deflected off defender Andrea Cistana and looped into the net, before Lukaku extended thei