Madrid - Barcelona went six points clear at the top of the Spanish Liga on Saturday by thrashing hapless Valencia 4-0.

Barca now have 35 points from 14 games, six points more than Villarreal, who did well to force a 3-3 draw against Getafe earlier on Saturday.

With Samuel Eto'o suspended, Thierry Henry took centre stage, banging in a handsome hat-trick and looking more comfortable than ever in a Barca shirt.

The French veteran made it 1-0 in the 20th minute by latching on to a classy through-ball from Yaya Toure and scoring with the outside of his right foot.

Eight minutes later, with the Valencia defence looking shaky, Henry made it 2-0 by turning in a short pass from Alexander Hleb.

Madrid  - Villarreal came from 3-0 down to force a dramatic 3-3 draw against Getafe on Saturday, and thus retain second place in La Liga.

Getafe had coasted into a 3-0 lead within 30 minutes, thanks to early goals from Esteban Granero, Jaime Gavilan and Francisco Casquero.

But Villarreal were a transformed team in the second half, faster and more imaginative. Robet Pires pulled a goal back in the 56th minute, Sebastian Eguren made it 3-2 with just eight minutes left.

With Getafe against the ropes, Guiseppe Rossi made it 3-3 in the 86th minute - then almost won the game for the "Yellow Submarine" in injury time.

Rome - A muscle injury suffered Saturday has sidelined Brazilian star Ronaldinho from a Serie A game AC Milan play this weekend at home to Catania.

Gazzetta. it reported that Ronaldinho hurt himself during the Devils' last training session, forcing coach Carlo Ancelotti to add his name to a long list of absentees.

Midfielders Andrea Pirlo, Massimo Ambrosini, Clarence Seedorf, defender Daniele Bonera and strikers Filippo Inzaghi and Marco Borriello also won't be available for the Sunday game at the Giuseppe Meazza.

Rome  - Jeremy Menez was the hero for Roma Saturday as he scored a second-half winner to secure a 1-0 win over Chievo and register his side's fourth win in succession.

The Frenchman played one of his best games since joining the Rome club and was rewarded on 69 minutes with a spectacular volley that ensured victory.

Menez first threatened on nine minutes with a dangerous drive while 10 minutes later two defenders managed to block the former Monaco midfielder as he tried to break into the area.

Hamburg  - Bayer Leverkusen regrouped on Saturday to win 3-1 at Borussia Moenchengladbach to remain in touch with Bundesliga leaders TSG Hoffenheim and Bayern Munich.

Stefan Kiessling struck twice and fed Patrick Helmes for the other for Leverkusen, who are unbeaten against Moenchengladbach in 23 matches since a last defeat in 1994.

Leverkusen now have 31 points, moving into third place ahead of Hertha Berlin, who remain on 30 after losing 1-0 at beleaguered Schalke 04 thanks to a goal from from Gerald Asamoah. Hoffenheim and Munich lead the way with 34 points each after Munich won their table- topper 2-1 on Friday.

Hamburg - The fairy tales are over for German football as national team manager Oliver Bierhoff urged hard work for future success in an interview published on Saturday.

"We must realize that the summer fairy tale, and the summer fairy tale 'reloaded' - if you want to give Euro 2008 this name - is over ... We must be down to earth again," Bierhoff told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung.