Best Of… A Weekend of Top Team Domination

 'Waterloo Sunset’ - The Kinks

Here’s to a bit of proper football played by the best in the game. The big three in the Premier League all notched victories, and Barcelona and Real Madrid both outclassed their opponents. They say pictures are worth quite a few of words. Well how much is a round-up with words, pictures, and highlights worth? Here’s the best of the past weekend in football.

1. Barcelona 3-0 Valencia

Barcelona beat Champions League hopefuls Valencia 3-0 at Camp Nou thanks to a spectacular hat-trick from Lionel Messi. The little Argentine opened the scoring with a fine solo effort 11 minutes into the second half and, after Valencia defender Hedwiges Maduro was shown a second yellow card in the 69th minute, Messi punished Los Che with another two goals late on.

2. Chelsea 4-1 West Ham

A Dominant Chelsea side thrashed relegation-threatened West Ham at Stamford Bridge. Florent Malouda crossed for Alex to open the scoring for Chelsea with a powerful header from close range. The Hammers hit back through ex-Chelsea player Scott Parker who scored with a blistering half-volley from outside the area. But Didier Drogba nodded home a Malouda cross to regain the lead, before Malouda calmly slotted a third and Drogba tapped in a late fourth to seal the victory.

3. Hull City 1-2 Arsenal

Nicklas Bendtner’s late goal comfirmed a win at 10-man Hull. Arsenal struck first with a typically incisive move that ended with Andrey Arshavin firing in from close range. Sol Campbell’s foul on what looked an offside Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink allowed Jimmy Bullard to fire Hull level from the penalty spot. Hull battled well after George Boateng was sent off but Bendtner fired home in injury time to give Arsenal victory. The lanky Dane has scored six goals in the past five matches. This was not a vintage performance from the Gunners but that will be of no concern to boss Arsene Wenger because they managed to snag the three points against a spirited Hull side.

Manuel Pellegrini’s job security was given a boost after his Real Madrid side bounced back from a frustrating Champions League exit on Wednesday with a convincing thrashing of Real Valladolid to stay above Barcelona on goal difference. Cristiano Ronaldo eased any concerns of a European hangover with a deflected free-kick in the 28th minute, and Gonzalo Higuain added a further two goals either side of the break to make it 3-0. The hosts were given brief hope of a comeback when Raul Albiol put the ball into his own net in the 58th minute for 3-1, but they were dashed just eight minutes later when Higuain completed his hat-trick. Should Barcelona and Real Madrid remain level on points at the end of the season, they will be separated by their head-to-head record.

Honourable Mention: Tottenham 3-1 Blackburn

The Spurs have moved into 4th place and could find themselves fortunately qualifying for the Champions League after poor runs of form from Manchester City and Liverpool.