Barca pounces on Madrid stumble

MADRID - Lionel Messi's hat-trick saw Barcelona move four points clear of Real Madrid atop the La Liga standings on Saturday and Ousmane Dembele marked his debut with an assist in a 5-0 rout of Espanyol.

Earlier, Madrid paid for the absence of suspended Cristiano Ronaldo and a series of missed chances by Gareth Bale as it was held to a 1-1 draw at home by newly-promoted Levante.

Barca made no such mistake as Ernesto Valverde's men have now taken maximum points from their opening three games.