Lionel Messi on song with two goals as Barcelona thrash Real Sociedad

Lionel Messi scored twice as Barcelona thrashed Real Sociedad 5-0 to stay top of La Liga after a ninth straight victory. David Villa, Andrés Iniesta, and Bojan Krkic also got on the scoresheet in a fluent exhibition of the quick-touch football that has guided the Catalans to their last two titles.

Messi threaded the ball to Pedro Rodríguez in the ninth minute and Villa was on his own inside the box to redirect a pass into the roof of the net for his ninth of the season. Iniesta charged into the area in the 33rd minute, laying off to Pedro who returned it for the Spain midfielder to beat Claudio Bravo with a low shot inside the near post.

The Sociedad players looked like any other Camp Nou spectators at times as Xavi Hernández, Messi and Iniesta, all shortlisted for the world player of the year award, orchestrated attack after attack, with Villa and Pedro denied by Bravo or scrambling defenders.

Messi started the third goal from just inside the Sociedad half in the 47th minute, the Argentina forward exchanging several passes with Daniel Alves before slotting home.

Messi, who hit the post in the 78th minute, equalled Cristiano Ronaldo's goal tally in the league in the 87th with a typically clever run past four defenders inside the area before finishing with a left-footed shot inside the far post. Messi and Ronaldo have 17 league goals.

Bojan scored the last Barcelona goal with an individual effort in injury time.Barcelona, who have outscored their opponents 26-0 in their last six games in all competitions, lead the table with 40 points from 15 games with Real Madrid two points behind.

Mesut Ozil, Ronaldo and Angel Di María scored for Real in a 3-1 defeat of the bottom club Real Zaragoza. The home team had chances early on at La Romareda stadium but Madrid took control with Ozil's 15th-minute goal. The Germany playmaker capped a quick breakout by tucking a shot under Leo Franco.

The Zaragoza goalkeeper was left flat-footed in the 44th when Ronaldo dipped a free-kick over the defensive wall and into the empty side of the goal.

Di María made it 3-0 three minutes after the break by shooting over Franco as the Zaragoza goalkeeper raced out to try to cut off the Argentina international after Xabi Alonso had put him clear.

Ricardo Carvalho was booked for halting Nicolás Bertolo's run inside the area and Gabriel Fernández stepped up to beat Iker Casillas, playing his 400th league game, from the penalty spot for Zaragoza's goal in the 54th minute.

European Golden Shoe Weekly Update: Barcelona star Lionel Messi joins Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo in first spot

Kenny Miller sits in third place

Real Madrid attacker Cristiano Ronaldo still sits first in the standings after scoring once in his side's 3-1 win over Real Zaragoza at the weekend. However, the Portuguese international is no longer the only player in the standings with 34 points.

Tricky attacker Lionel Messi has joined Ronaldo as the joint No.1 following his excellent performance on Sunday. The Barcelona star scored twice to help his side to a comfortable 5-0 win over Real Sociedad and has now scored 17 league goals, too.

Furthermore, Rangers striker Kenny Miller has climbed to joint third spot after scoring once in the Scottish champions' 1-1 draw against Inverness. The attacker could have added another, but failed to find the net from the penalty spot.

The biggest winner of the weekend was Freiburg attacker Papiss Demba Cisse. The Senegal star netted a brace to help Freiburg to a 3-0 home win over relegation candidates Borussia Moenchengladbach and has now netted 13 Bundesliga goals.