Madrid, January 30:

Barcelona ran out comfortable 3-0 winners at Real Mallorca to extend their lead at the top of the Spanish first division to 12 points and notch up their 14th straight league victory.

The Spanish giants’ latest triumph, with two goals from Argentine teenage wonder Lionel Messi after an opener by Ludovic Giuly, moved them to within one win of equalling the league record of 15 consecutive victories, established by Real Madrid in 1960-61.

Giuly put Barca in front after 40 minutes. Mallorca were then reduced to 10 men when Eduardo Tuzzio got his second yellow card after 72 minutes and then Messi made the most of the advantage with two goals in the last 15 minutes.

The Catalan club added to their league lead after Valencia had to settle for a point with a 2-2 draw with Real Zaragoza. Valencia left it late but two goals in the last eight minutes kept them in second place and extended their unbeaten streak to 10 games.

Real Madrid moved up to third by beating Celta Vigo 2-1 after Osasuna lost for the first time at home this season, going down 2-0 to Real Betis. Robinho opened the scoring for Real in the 16th minute but Mattias Lequi headed Celta back level in the 40th. Right back Cicinho then put Real ahead after 57 minutes, finding the net from close range.

FA Cup

PORTSMOUTH: Liverpool booked their place in the last 16 of the FA Cup with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

Liverpool took the lead in the 37th minute when Pompey’s Dejan Stefanovic was harshly ruled to have deliberately handled the ball inside the box and Steven Gerrard scored from the resulting penalty. And four minutes later John Arne Riise doubled Liverpool’s lead when he beat Dean Kiely with a long-range shot. Pompey pulled a goal back through Sean Davis’s 54th minute header.

Earlier, Manchester United went into the fifth round after a 3-0 win away to Wolves. Kieran Richardson struck twice and a further effort from Louis Saha saw United into the last 16.

Italian Serie A

ROME: David Trezeguet scored a hat-trick inside the first 18 minutes as champions Juventus kept on course to retain the Serie A title with a comfortable 3-1 win at Ascoli.

The 28-year-old France international’s quickfire treble clinched Juve’s 19th victory in 22 matches and kept them eight points clear of second-placed Inter, who scored twice late on to beat bottom club Lecce 2-0. AC Milan are 12 points off the pace in third spot after their 1-1 draw at home to Sampdoria on Saturday.

Fiorentina held on to fourth position despite being held to a 0-0 draw at Udinese, while Roma climbed above Livorno into fifth place after defeating the Tuscan side 3-0.