The win increased Zinedine Zidane's side's advantage at the top of the standings to six points

Real Madrid were dumped out of the Copa del Rey at the quarter-final stage on Thursday after losing 4-3 at home to Real Sociedad, while record 30-times winners Barcelona were sent crashing out of the Copa del Rey in a 1-0 defeat at Athletic Bilbao.

La Liga champions Barcelona fell to their first defeat in three games under new coach Quique Setien as they were beaten 2-0 away at Valencia on Saturday. Barca are still top of the standings on 43 points after 21 games but second-placed Real Madrid, who are also on 43, can go three points clear at the summit if they beat Real Valladolid away from home on Sunday.

Setien was named Barcelona coach late on Monday, tasked with the job of restoring the club's iconic passing style, but the appointment represents a huge gamble for the Catalans given the 61-year-old's lack of success at the highest level.

Barcelona great Xavi Hernandez has said it is his dream to coach his former side

News of all that transpired on and off the football field on Friday

Barca lead the standings on 39 points from 18 games, three clear of second-placed Real Madrid who host Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

As the second half got underway, masked demonstrators broke down an exterior fence in a failed attempt to gain entry to the stadium.

Both sides had shots cleared off the line but Real were left feeling more disappointed after winning the tactical battle but failing to take their chances.

Italy's top-flight Serie A soccer league launched a new anti-racism campaign on Monday by presenting artwork featuring three side-by-side paintings of apes but the move has been described by campaign group Fare as a sick joke. News of all that's transpired on and off the football field.

Real Sociedad are fourth in the table on 28 points, three points behind third-placed Sevilla.

Lionel Messi celebrated his sixth Ballon D'Or award with a brilliant hat-trick as Barcelona moved back top of La Liga with an emphatic 5-2 victory over Real Mallorca.

Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde said the football world must get used to the idea that Lionel Messi will retire in the near future.

News of all that's transpired on and off the football field

A summary of Wednesday's matches in the UEFA Champions League.

The home side spurned two chances to extend their advantage before the break but Barca levelled in the 52nd minute when Luis Suarez glanced in Lionel Messi's free kick.

A round-up of Saturday's action in La Liga, Ligue 1 and Serie A.

A summary of Tuesday's Group stage matches in the UEFA Champions League.

Barcelona were so keen to bring Neymar back from Paris St Germain that the players were ready to accept delays to salary payments in order for the club to afford the Brazilian

Barcelona captain Lionel Messi scored two goals and set up two more as the Catalans thrashed Real Valladolid 5-1 to move top of La Liga on Tuesday.

A round of Saturday's matches in Series A, La Liga and Bundesliga.

News of all that's transpired on and off the football field

Real Madrid's unbeaten start to the La Liga season came to an abrupt and surprising end as Real Mallorca claimed a stunning 1-0 victory at a rocking Son Moix on Saturday to climb out of the relegation zone.

Barcelona's rescheduled La Liga game at home to Real Madrid is set to take place on December 18 as both clubs came to an agreement after the match, due to be played on October 26, was postponed amid violent political demonstrations in Catalonia.

Tensions have flared in the region of Barcelona due to the controversial court decision jailing several leaders of the Catalan independence movement for their role in organising a referendum on the subject in 2017.

Valverde believes the match should go ahead as planned.

Nine Catalan separatist leaders were jailed for between nine and 13 years on Monday for their roles in an illegal referendum and subsequent failed independence bid, sparking protests and clashes across the region. Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia.

Following his debut, Messi made just eight more appearances for the first team that season.

Images from the La Liga match played between FC Barcelona and Sevilla on at Camp Nou on Sunday

A round-up of Wednesday's night's UEFA Chmpions League matches.

Cristiano Ronaldo helped Juventus continue their unbeaten start to the Serie A season with a comfortable 2-0 home victory over struggling SPAL on Saturday.

News of all that's transpired on and off the football field

Barcelona defender Gerard Pique blamed the club's pre-season trips to the United States and Japan for their shaky start to the season.

The victory takes Barcelona up to fourth with 10 points after six games, one point behind surprise leaders Granada, Athletic Bilbao, who visit Leganes on Wednesday, and Real Madrid ahead of their game at home to Osasuna the same night.

A statement from the club on Thursday said they had made record turnover of 990 million euros last season and projected an increase to 1.047 billion euros for the 2019/20 campaign.

The Brazilian is likely to make his first appearance of the season for the Ligue 1 leaders at home against Racing Strasbourg on Saturday.

Lionel Messi says he wanted Neymar to return to Barcelona this year as the Brazilian would have helped the club take a leap forward

Jenni Hermoso scored a late hat-trick as Barcelona hammered CD Tacon 9-1

News of all that's transpired on and off the football field

News of all that's transpired on and off the football field