Luis Suarez scored twice and Lionel Messi scored once to lift Barcelona to a 4-1 home victory over cross-town rival Espanyol on Sunday.

Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi Lead Barcelona To 4-1 Win Over Espanyol

Suarez, who signed a new contract with Barca on Friday, opened scoring in the 18th minute on a one-time shot into the far corner following an excellent pass from Andrés Iniesta, and then the Uruguayan slotted home again from close range in the 67th.

Messi also weaved past several Espanyol defenders in the box to assist on Barcelona’s third goal, scored by Jordi Alba just one minute after Suarez’s second. The 29-year-old Argentine also beat four Espanyol defenders to set up Suarez’s second goal, which came off a rebound from goalie Diego Lopez, who was replaced by Roberto due to injury. The Camp Nou crowd went wild after witnessing the spectacular plays that led up to those two goals.

After Silva David Lopez netted Espanyol’s lone goal, Messi capped the victory in the 90th minute with his own score that went through the legs of Roberto and that Suarez set up with a lobbed pass.

Suarez and Messi are now joint top scorers in La Liga this season with 12 goals each.

Barcelona are now three points (34) behind leaders Real Madrid (37), who have played one game less after being named Club World Cup champions earlier on Sunday.

Sevilla is third with 3 points.

Espanyol have not defeated Barcelona since 2009, although they entered the game on a nine-game unbeaten run in the league, having lost only once in their last six.

BARCELONA, SPAIN – DECEMBER 18: Lionel Messi (R) of FC Barcelona celebrates with his team mate Luis Suarez after scoring his team’s fourth goal during the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol at the Camp Nou stadium on December 18, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

James Rodriguez scored a goal late in the first half, and Karim Benzema added another midway through the second half to lead Real Madrid to a 2-0 road victory over Espanyol on Sunday.

James Rodriguez, Karim Benzema Lead Real Madrid To 2-0 Win Over Espanyol

Rodriguez, a 25-year-old Colombian midfielder, put Real ahead two minutes into first-half stoppage time with an impressive solo effort. He was linked with a move away from Real Madrid in the summer.

After taking a pass from Toni Kroos about 30 yards from goal at the edge of the box — which came after Rodriguez had slipped the ball through the legs of Pape Diop — the Colombian shot a left-footer low into the corner past goalkeeper Diego Lopez. 

The goal was one of Rodriguez’s best since he scored on a spectacular volley shot with Colombia against Uruguay at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Rodriguez received a congratulatory handshake from his manager, Zinedine Zidane, when he came off the field for midfielder Isco midway through the second half.

Zidane, a former Real Madrid star, has now become only the second manager in Spain to compile 16 consecutive wins. Barcelona did it during the 2010-2011 season under Pep Guardiola, who is now the head of Manchester City.

Madrid was missing two major players on Sunday: Wales forward Gareth Bale picked up a hip problem in the 2-1 Champions League win at Sporting Lisbon on Wednesday, while Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo was ruled out with flu.

Despite their share of unimpressive moments in the first half, Real began strong, and defenseman Sergio Ramos was all over the place while guarding Leo Baptistao. He could have been ejected with a red card, but escaped with only a yellow. Ramos then hand-balled later in the half and again received the benefit of the doubt from the referee.

Baptistao had Espanyol’s best early opportunity when Hernan Perez’s strong header in-field played him in, although his shot was deftly blocked by goalie Kiko Casilla. Casilla was playing agains his former team, and remained busy early on.

Espanyol had lost Argentine winger Pablo Piatti to injury after just ten minutes, but it had not knocked them off their stride and soon, Real’s Casemiro limped off as injuries on both sides evened. Casemiro had clashed with Diop and was unable to brush off the injury.

Kroos replaced Casemiro and the tone immediately lifted.

Benzema scored 40 minutes into the game, but his header from a Marcelo cross was ruled out correctly for offside. The French striker was then taken down by Oscar Duarte, who picked up the game’s third yellow card.

Benzema then doubled Real’s lead in the 71st minute, meeting Lucas Vazquez’s low cross for a simple tap-in from close range.

Isco’s trickery on the touchline stunned Espanyol, and when he fed Dani Carvajal, the full-back played in Vazquez. The winger crossed to Benzema, who buried it.

Real, undefeated thus far this season, are now at the top of Spain’s La Liga standings with 12 points, while Barcelona and Las Palmas follow at second and third respectively, with nine points apiece.

Former Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores has just two points from his opening four games since taking over at Espanyol in the summer.

Espanyol had a penalty shout in the second half when Pepe challenged Baptistao, but the referee waved away the appeal.

When Marco Asensio headed Lucas Vazquez’s pass back to Benzema he was denied by Lopez’ superb point-blank save. He denied his former team-mate again with 20 minutes left.

Real’s last 11 goals have come from 11 different players, and it’s been 16 games in the league since they have lost.

Madrid will next host Villareal on Wednesday, while Espanyol will visit Osasuna on Thursday for their next La Liga match.

BARCELONA, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 18: James Rodriguez of Real Madrid CF celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the La Liga match between RCD Espanyol and Real Madrid CF at the RCDE stadium on September 18, 2016 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=td4AIY5Ha_8

Star Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo scores three goals out of five shots he took against Espanyol on Sunday, four of which were on goal. The Portuguese player led Real Madrid to a 6-0 Win over Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid.

Cristiano Ronaldo Scores Hat Trick in Real Madrid 6-0 Win Over Espanyol

Real netted three goals in the first 16 minutes, the first one from Karim Benzema following a cross from James Rodriguez. Ronaldo’s first goal was a penalty that came in the first half, after he was fouled. This put Real Madrid up 2-0.

Ronaldo then scored another goal to make it 4-0 at halftime, and then scored his third goal with a header in the second half. The final goal was an own goal by Espanyol’s Oscar Duarte.

This was Ronaldo’s 29th La Liga hat trick, and his third consecutive hat trick vs. Espanyol. Real Madrid are now just four points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona.

Ronaldo is now La Liga’s lead scorer, with 19 total goals this season, compared to 12 goals for Barcelona’s Lionel Messi. Barcelona defeated Atletico de Madrid 2-1 at Camp Nou in Barcelona on Saturday, with Messi scoring the game equalizer. Messi has now scored in four straight Liga games, his best streak of the season.

It was also the debut for Espanyol’s new goalkeeper Giedrius Arlauskis, signed on loan from Watford during the week.

Next Sunday, Real Madrid will visit Granada, while Espanyol host Real Sociedad.