Barca pounce

BARCELONA: Lionel Messi broke a Spanish hat-trick record and Luis Suarez struck twice as a rampant Barcelona took over top spot in La Liga with a 6-1 hammering of Rayo Vallecano yesterday. The Argentinian struck a penalty after 56 minutes followed by further goals after 63 and 68 minutes to go one ahead of former Athletic Bilbao great Telmo Zarra. Barca moved on to 62 points, a point clear of Real Madrid, who were beaten by Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, and are now in pole position two weeks before Madrid’s visit to their Nou Camp fortress for El Clasico. – Reuters

Pole just ahead

MAUREPAS: Polish rider Michal Kwiatkowski won the opening ride of the ParisNice race yesterday, beating Australian Rohan Dennis by a whisker. Kwiatkowski posted a time of 7min 40sec on the 6.7km course around Maurepas, which is located on the outskirts of Paris, finishing 0.31sec ahead of Dennis, who holds the world hour record. The race continues today with a 196.5km first stage from the Paris suburb of Saint-Remyles-Chevreuse to Contres in central France. – Sapa-AP

SA beat Egypt

SOUTH Africa edged Egypt 3-2 with goals from Rhett Halkett, Julian Hykes and Pierre de Voux in the FIA World League Round 2 hockey tournament in Cape Town yesterday. The win put South Africa top of Pool B with one match, against Switzerland tomorrow, remaining before the playoffs get under way. – Jonathan Cook

No reply from United

A 10-MAN University of Pretoria beat Maritzburg United 1-0 thanks to a seventh-minute goal from Atusaye Nyondo. Vuyisile Ntombayithethi was sent off on the half-hour mark after picking up his second yellow card. – Sapa

Another title for Park

SINGAPORE: Inbee Park claimed her 13th career LPGA title by winning the HSBC Women’s Championships yesterday, shooting a two-under 70 in the final round to win by two strokes from 17-year-old Lydia Ko, who also shot a 70. – Sapa-AP