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Posted: 2017-04-26 23:53:42

Updated April 27, 2017 10:05:38

Lionel Messi has followed up his remarkable performance against Real Madrid with another two goals as Barcelona trounced last-place Osasuna 7-1 to remain at the top of the Spanish league.

Andre Gomes and Paco Alcacer also scored twice, and Javier Mascherano netted his first goal for Barcelona to complete the rout at the Camp Nou.

Messi had also scored twice in the "clasico" against Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Sunday, including a last-minute winner that gave him 500 career goals with Barcelona. He was honoured for the milestone before Thursday's (AEST) game, with a huge banner displayed on the stands with the words "Thank you Leo."

"With Messi, everything is easier," Barcelona coach Luis Enrique said.

Messi opened the scoring against Osasuna with a lob over the goalkeeper after breaking free from his markers and surging into the area with only goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu to beat. He neatly headed the ball down before unleashing his 12th-minute strike.

Messi, who has scored 16 goals in his last 11 league games, netted his second with a well-placed left-foot shot from just outside the area in the 61st, two minutes before being substituted to a standing ovation by the crowd at the Camp Nou.

Real Madrid responds by thumping Deportivo La Coruna

An under-strength Real Madrid crushed Deportivo La Coruna 6-2 to pull level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga.

Isco ran the show for Los Blancos in Galicia and got on the scoresheet along with James Rodriguez, who hit a brace, Alvaro Morata, Lucas Vazquez and substitute Casemiro.

With Sergio Ramos suspended and Gareth Bale injured, Zinedine Zidane made nine changes for the trip to the Riazor but Madrid's reserves made light work of Depor, for whom Florin Andone and Joselu scored consolation goals.

Madrid have 78 points from 33 games, while Barcelona have the same tally, having played 34, after their 7-1 win earlier over Osasuna, who were relegated after Leganes's 3-0 triumph over Las Palmas.

Dortmund stuns Bayern to reach German Cup final

Borussia Dortmund reached the German Cup final for a record fourth successive season after staging a thrilling five-minute, two-goal comeback to stun holders and hosts Bayern Munich 3-2.

Teenager Ousmane Dembele scored one goal and set up another in a five minute spell in the second half to help Dortmund come back from 2-1 down after having taken a 19th-minute lead through Marco Reus.

The game lived up to its billing with both teams playing an attacking game and Dortmund avenging last year's Cup final defeat to Bayern.

The Bavarians have now failed to win any of their last five matches in all competitions and following last week's Champions League exit to Real Madrid, have only the league title to aim for.

Three-times winner Dortmund faces Eintracht Frankfurt, which edged past Borussia Monchengladbach on penalties on Wednesday, in the final in Berlin next month.

PSG sweep aside Monaco in French Cup

Holders Paris St Germain reached the French Cup final with a thumping 5-0 home win against a weakened Monaco side in a one-sided last-four clash on Wednesday.

Julian Draxler, Edinson Cavani, Blaise Matuidi, Marquinhos and a Safwan Mbae own goal kept PSG on course to win a third straight Cup title.

They will take on Angers, who beat En Avant Guingamp 2-0 on Tuesday, in the May 27 showdown at the Stade de France.

Tottenham refuses to give up title chase, Arsenal eyes top-four

With less than a month of the Premier League season left it remains Chelsea's title to lose but Tottenham Hotspur defiantly stayed in contention by grinding out a 1-0 victory at Crystal Palace.

Chelsea's already profitable week looked like getting a whole lot better as Palace doggedly kept Tottenham at bay for 78 minutes but Christian Eriksen's unstoppable blast meant they are once again looking over their shoulders.

With five games remaining Chelsea, which beat Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-final on Saturday and Southampton in the league on Tuesday, both by 4-2 scorelines, leads Tottenham by four points.

It faces Everton on Sunday at Goodison Park while Tottenham faces a huge north London derby against Arsenal -- probably the last one ever at their historic White Hart Lane stadium.

Arsenal was also in action on Thursday, keeping alive its hopes of finishing in the top four for a 21st successive season with a crucial 1-0 victory over Leicester City courtesy of Robert Huth's late own goal.

Huth deflected in Nacho Monreal's volley in the 86th minute to earn a win which put the Gunners sixth, above Everton, three points behind Manchester United and four points behind fourth-placed Manchester City. United face City on Thursday.

Sunderland's 10-year stay in the top flight will end this weekend if they lose to Bournemouth and Hull City take a point from their trip to Southampton.

That gloomy prospect arose after they were beaten 1-0 by Middlesbrough in a dismal basement derby on Wednesday.

AP/Reuters

Topics: spain-soccer, germany-soccer, france-soccer, soccer, english-premier, european-union

First posted April 27, 2017 09:53:42

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