Not sure if this has been posted elsewhere ..

On Saturday Messi and Ronaldo both scored hat-tricks as their sides romped to victories.

In goal for Atletico, against Messi, was Courtois, our new Belgian keeper ..

Two of Ronaldo's goals were penalties but they were pretty sublime at that ..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbAlcOJWAxM

Not sure what their goals to games ratios are, but they seem to be banging them in every week, and breaking scoring records by the truckload ..

Must say that on Messis first goal there was some absolutely horrible defending. If that's the level of the defenders in Spain then no wonder players like Ronaldo and Messi scores loads of goals

I believe Messi has 12 goals and 10 assists in 9 games.

All my distaste for Barca aside, that first goal was some god awful defending (but excellent finishing) and the second was just strange. He had Villa wide open to the left, but instead chose to fight off three defenders. Their third goal was excellent though, as was the first Ronaldo goal.

Anyway, I guess normal service is resumed. Strange that these two teams misfired two weeks in a row and gained zero ground on each other at the same time, when they apparently thrash everyone else all of the time.

Those two are freaks, but La Liga is so unbalanced that it's no surprise. The rest of the teams are really in a race for third. It's almost the SPL.

Defending in LaLiga is just pure cr*p. Messi and Ronaldo are both great players no doubt but the space they've got is unbelievable. That first Messi goal the defenders are just watching. In prem tackles would have flown from left and right.

They wouldn't have blown those penalties if it wasn't at Bernabeu. Both were blatant dives. Minimal contact from defender.

Great to see Courtois facing those big players at such young age. We'll have great back up for Petr.

I think the big difference between them is the big games. Alan hanson used to say he's never seen any one destroy the lesser teams like ronaldo in the prem. He used to hill his boots againts the bottom half of the table teams but against us he was hit and miss and I think the same can be said for the other prem contenders. Messi seems to turn it on who ever he playes against.

It is becoming weird how, when one player or team slips up, their rival seems to do the same right one cue.

This weekend it was Barca who eeked past Gijon with Messi failing to get on the scoresheet. Then Madrid beat Espanyol 0-4, but Ronaldo sets up a couple of goals, and gets none himself. On the bright side for them, Higuain looked totally brilliant, and I wouldnt be surprised to see him keep his place as lead striker over Benzema. Just seems to be quicker and better suited to Madrid's style of play. On the downside, this probably means they wont be flogging him for cheap any time soon...

It is becoming weird how, when one player or team slips up, their rival seems to do the same right one cue.

This weekend it was Barca who eeked past Gijon with Messi failing to get on the scoresheet. Then Madrid beat Espanyol 0-4, but Ronaldo sets up a couple of goals, and gets none himself. On the bright side for them, Higuain looked totally brilliant, and I wouldnt be surprised to see him keep his place as lead striker over Benzema. Just seems to be quicker and better suited to Madrid's style of play. On the downside, this probably means they wont be flogging him for cheap any time soon...

Why will Real Madrid sell Higuaín? Crowd and manager favorite, he loves the club, has the badge tattooed on his chest, 15 years ago appeared on Argie tv as a kid and said he wants to play for RM.

Today Javier Matallanas from AS is reporting that Chelsea want him to replace Drogba but it won't happen, Higuaín already turned down mega wages from Chelsea and Milan when he was at River Plate.

Another hattrick for Messi yesterday. Real Madrid in front however.

Both massively overrated, give me David Lee and Erland Johnsen any day.

I have always believed that with Premier League refereeing Stoke would give Barca a harder game than any team in La Liga bar Real Madrid.

Judging by yesterday, Messi has a very similar technique to Anelka.

One or two steps, very slow, almost nonchalant.

Okay okay he smacks it home but you can't have everything ..

I have always believed that with Premier League refereeing Stoke would give Barca a harder game than any team in La Liga bar Real Madrid.

Despite both Mata and Silva saying that the EPL was easier to play in for skilful players, because it is so open?

Real have a 3 point lead at the top after drubbing Osasuna 7-1. Ronaldo with a hattrick, Benzema with a brace, and Higuain with an absolute peach. Ronaldo now has 103 goals in 106 games for Real. If he gets one next game, he will have equalled Brazilian Ronaldo's scoring record at Real in 70 fewer games. If he keeps this pace up (pretty much impossible) he will be within touching distance of the Real scoring record using 400 fewer games played than Raul, and probably before the age of 30.

Messi got a goal as well, to salvage a point for Barca at Bilbao. Looks like the party is over for Levante and Valencia.

Despite both Mata and Silva saying that the EPL was easier to play in for skilful players, because it is so open?

Despite what they say, you dont have to be a genius to see that its a league where you can win a foul for almost anything. Barca played today on a water logged pitch against a Bilbao side determined to get stuck in. They gave up two goals, and wouldve lost had Javi Martinez cleared the ball to anyone but Messi near the end. Bottom line is their magic was nowhere to be found and they eeked out a draw

Not sure what their goals to games ratios are, but they seem to be banging them in every week, and breaking scoring records by the truckload ..

I would love to see the historical precedent here, but the two of them are tearing up the record books like i have never seen in any sport. Messi is 24 and is now Barca's second all time goal scorer. God know's how many he is going to score in his career.

Ronaldo, while he has come up short so far in Spain, is even more remarkable to me. 76 goals in 73 games. Thats the kind of record you read about for Puskas or Gerd Muller. He is 26, and will be 27 later this year, but the fact that he came to Spain at 24 and is already a Real legend is jaw dropping.

Raul got 323 goals in 741 games for Madrid. Ronaldo has 103 goals in 106 games. As I said, I dont think he can keep it up because injuries and age will wear him down in 3-4 years, but he will probably become Real Madrid's all time leading scorer, despite only moving there in his mid-20s. I would be interested to hear the opinions of older Madridistas on how he compares to Sanchez, Butragueno, Di Stefano, etc.

I think La Liga standards are getting poorer though. This would indicate why those 2 are untouchable at the moment. Ronaldo used to destroy the lesser teams in the prem but he was never brilliant against the likes of us. I don't recall Ronaldo having a brilliant game against Barcelona either but I could be wrong. My point is the balance of La Liga is heavily in their favour and it looks increasingly difficult for someone to bridge the gap so they will always be against inferior opposition whom they can destroy.

That is true re: the balance. Even in the heydays of Figo, Zidane, and Roberto Carlos Madrid seemingly never handed out these kind of drubbings with such regularity. It seems like once teams are a few down against them or Barca they just give up or something.

Ronaldo has gone missing in some big games of his career. I honestly thought in 09 in Rome he would have Barca for lunch. However, he had a great game against them in the Copa del Rey final last year. That couldve been a wild scoreline but for some good defense and missed chances. This year, too, in the super cup ties he was great against Barca. Madrid couldve been high and dry after the first half hour of the first leg, because they created about a dozen beautiful chances but only bagged one of them.

We wont know until El Classico, but it seems like Jose and that team have turned a corner against Barca. If anyone can help a team bounce back from outplaying someone, but not winning, its Jose. If they stop buying random attackers, and just let that attack of Ronaldo-Ozil-Di Maria gel, its frightening to think of how dangerous they could be in a couple of seasons.

I think the big difference between them is the big games.

Messi against Madrid.......16 starts 13 goals 8 assists

Ronaldo against Barca....13 starts 3 goals 0 assists