Story highlights
Lionel Messi sees penalty saved as Barcelona held 0-0 by nine-man Sevilla
Real Madrid take over at top after Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick at Malaga
Liverpool held 1-1 by promoted Norwich in English Premier League
German champions Borussia Dortmund beat Cologne 5-0
There were contrasting fortunes for the two superstars of La Liga as Lionel Messi missed an injury time penalty for Barcelona in the Nou Camp to allow Real Madrid to go top as Cristiano Ronaldo grabbed a quickfire hat-trick.
Messi saw his spot kick sensationally saved by Sevilla keeper Javi Varas as the game ended in a goalless draw.
Ronaldo notched his triple in 15 first half minutes in Real’s 4-0 win at Malaga and they lead their arch-rivals by a point.
Barcelona dominated throughout in the late kickoff but they were thwarted by the brilliant Varas, who kept out efforts from Andres Iniesta and David Villa.
In the dying moments, Iniesta was fouled in the area and a penalty was awarded.
Sevilla substitute Frederic Kanoute was incensed and knocked the ball off the spot as Messi prepared to take the penalty.
He was also involved in a tussle with Cesc Fabregas before being shown the red card.
After the fracas, Messi was then denied.
There was still time for Sevilla’s Fernando Navara to go for a second yellow card as they ended with nine men.
Earlier, Ronaldo rediscovered his scoring touch after Gonzalo Higuain put Real in front after 10 minutes.
“I liked everything about the way we played – the first touch, the second touch and the way we pressed when we lost the ball,” Real coach Jose Mourinho told AFP.
In the English Premier League, Liverpool missed the chance to take closer order in the title race when they were held 1-1 at home by Norwich.
Craig Bellamy put them ahead in first half injury time but the newly-promoted side stunned Anfield as Grant Holt equalized with a header after the break.
Newcastle stayed in fourth and moved level on points with Chelsea with a 1-0 home win over Wigan, who are rock bottom after a sixth straight defeat.
Yohan Cabaye’s second half goal continued the surprise start to the season for Alan Pardew’s men.
Top two Manchester City and Manchester City meet Sunday with Chelsea and Tottenham also in action.
In the German Bundesliga, reigning champions Borussia Dortmund moved into second place behind Bayern Munich with a 5-0 thumping of Cologne.
Dortmund lost to Olympiakos in the Champions League in midweek but showed no sign of a hangover as Shinji Kagawa put them ahead after just seven minutes.
Marcel Schmelzer made it 2-0 in the 25th minute before Robert Lewandowski, who scored in the Olympiakos defeat, added a third moments before halftime.
His second just after the break and a goal from captain Sebastian Kehl rounded off the win.
Leaders Bayern play Hannover Sunday.
Serie A leaders Juventus missed the chance to open up a big gap at the top in Italy as they were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Genoa.
Juve are unbeaten after seven games but they have drawn four, and five teams could conceivably overtake them after Sunday’s games.
Alessandro Matri twice gave the Turin giants the lead but Marco Rossi and then Andrea Caracciolo, his second equalizer coming five minutes from time, earned Genoa a point.