Barcelona marches on as Real Madrid falls

A half hour cameo from Messi and a goal from fellow substitute David Villa helped Barcelona continue its winning start to the new league season with a 4-1 victory at Getafe.

Adriano capitalised on good work by Cesc Fabregas to notch a 32nd-minute opener before the visitor added three more goals in the final 16 minutes to seal a fourth win from as many games.

Messi doubled the lead from the penalty spot before the Argentina ace made it 3-0 four minutes later. Getafe pulled a goal back through Pablo Sarabia's deflected strike but Villa had the final word with a brilliant piece of finishing in stoppage time to complete the scoring.

Getafe came into the game on the back of victory over defending champion Real Madrid which sank to a successive defeat, losing 1-0 at Sevilla to fall eight points behind Barca.

Piotr Trochowski lashed home after 69 seconds and Madrid could not find a response, instead counting itself  lucky that not one but two of their players avoided red cards that could easily have been shown to Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Di Maria in separate incidents.

Madrid had scored 12 goals in its last two visits to Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, but only fleetingly threatened the goal this time around as it looked lost in its own uncertainties for long periods.

Valencia earned a first league victory of the campaign after easing past newly-promoted Celta Vigo 2-1 at the Mestalla.

Sofiane Feghouli gave Valencia an early lead and although Celta equalised soon after through Michael Krohn-Delhi, the host claimed the points thanks to Aly Cissokho's 50th-minute winner.

Valencia, which has finished third in each of the last three seasons, had only managed to pick up two points from a tough start to the campaign that included trips to Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Second place Malaga maintained its unbeaten start to the league campaign with a comfortable 3-1 win over Levante thanks to goals from Javier Saviola, Joaquin and Francisco Portillo.

Saviola deservedly put the host in front after 26 minutes with a simple finish from Isco's fine through ball, but Levante was level a minute after half-time when Michel thundered in from outside the area.

However, Malaga's lead was restored 12 minutes later when Saviola's cute pass found Joaquin free inside the area and his calm finish gave Gustavo Munua no chance.

And, despite losing Sergio Sanchez to a second yellow card three minutes from time, Portillo sealed all three points with a controlled volley in the last action of the match.