Brilliant Barça dazzle Madrid

Real Madrid CF 0-3 FC Barcelona

Barcelona stormed to the top of the Spanish Primera División with an emphatic victory at Madrid's Santiago Bernabéu stadium on Saturday. Samuel Eto'o opened the scoring on 15 minutes, beating Iker Casillas after a fine run by Lionel Messi. But it was Ronaldinho who stole the show after two superb second-half goals.

On the hour, the Brazilian playmaker swerved past Míchel Salgado and Iván Helguera before wrong-footing Casillas to score a brilliant second. Thirteen minutes from time the Barça No10 accelerated past Sergio Ramos and finished from a tight angle to round off a spectacular win, which enabled his side to edge ahead of CA Osasuna on goal difference - four points ahead of Madrid.

Coach Frank Rijkaard rested right-back Juliano Belletti, just returned from a calf injury, and was without Damiá Abella (groin) but otherwise had a full-strength squad from which to choose. "We had the feeling we would win and the players were very confident but we had to fight to get the victory," said Rijkaard. "When you're 3-0 up it seems easy but you have to work to make your way there."

Werder Bremen 6-1 VfL Wolfsburg

Bremen exerted total dominance as they cruised to an emphatic win against Wolfsburg on Saturday. Frank Baumann opened the scoring on just five minutes, and German international Tim Borowski hit the target after 43 minutes to send Bremen in two goals up at the break. Borowski claimed his second on 52 minutes before Diego Klimowicz pulled one back for Wolfsburg.

Striker Miroslav Klose restored the three-goal lead on the hour, and there was still time for Brazilian defender Naldo to weigh in before Klose completed the scoring five minutes from the end. Coach Thomas Schaaf went into the match without Ivan Klasnić, who is expected to return to training in the next few days after surgery on an inflamed appendix. Petri Pasanen (concussion) and long-term lay-offs Ümit Davala (hip), Tim Wiese (cruciate ligament) and Jelle Van Damme (groin) also missed the game.

"I am very pleased with my side's display," said Schaaf. "We were always in complete control of the match and we got the goals to show for it. It was a very enjoyable afternoon."

Panathinaikos FC 3-0 Apollon Kalamarias FC

Panathinaikos eased to victory against Kalamarias on Saturday to go joint-second in the Alpha Ethniki, level on points with Skoda Xanthi FC and AEK Athens FC. The victory helped erase memories of their elimination from the Greek Cup, 1-0 at the hands of second-division Ergotelis FC, ten days ago. The unmarked Evagelos Mantzios gave Panathinaikos the lead against Kalamarias with a 27th-minute header after connecting with a Flavio Conceiçao cross.

Ioannis Goumas made it two seven minutes from time with another header, this time from a Constantinos Charalambidis cross. Two minutes later, Anthony Šerić completed the scoring with a thunderous 30-metre free-kick. Coach Alberto Malesani rested Igor Bišćan, who has recently recovered from a knee injury, while Mikael Nilsson was ruled out with flu and left-back Filippos Darlas returned from suspension. Loukas Vintra picked up a leg injury against Kalamarias and his condition will be checked on Sunday.

Malesani said: "Our team consists of young players, who feel pressured when they read the critics in the newspapers or hear a disapproving whistle from the stands. I would like to ask the fans to encourage the players, the young ones in particular, because they need it and they work hard."

Udinese Calcio 1-0 FC Messina Peloro

Brazilian defender Felipe scored his first goal in Serie A as Udinese claimed their first Italian top-flight win in five games Saturday. The 21-year-old struck with just three minutes remaining to edge a tight encounter at the Friuli stadium and it capped a successful week for the youngster, coming just days after he signed a new contact, tying himself to the club until 2010.

Felipe said: "I am really happy because this goal is important for the team. Messina played well defensively but we knew that set-pieces were likely to decide the match. The game against Panathinaikos is the really important one but this win will give us extra confidence."

The goal will have come from an unlikely source for Udinese coach Serse Cosmi, whose principal striker Vincenzo Iaquinta was ruled out with a toe injury picked up in Italy's recent friendly against the Ivory Coast. Paulo Barreto came into the side in place of Iaquinta, and could do so again on Tuesday as the 25-year-old remains doubtful. Cosmi was also without Cesare Natali (ankle), Vidigal (leg) and Juarez (thigh) although all are expected to recover in time to face Panathinaikos.