SPAIN-- Barcelona set a Spanish record of 35 matches unbeaten in all competitions with a thumping 5-1 win at nine-man Rayo Vallecano in La Liga on Thursday after goal-machine Lionel Messi scored his 35th hat-trick.
Ivan Rakitic opened the scoring, Messi caught up with Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo on 35 trebles in all competitions and Arda Turan completed the rout, with Turkey's captain scoring his first goal for the club since joining from Atletico Madrid.
LONDON-- Australia's Rebecca Wiasak overwhelmed Poland's Malgorzata Wojtyra to retain her individual pursuit title as the world track championships began at London's velodrome on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old was never threatened, leading the 3,000m event from start to finish as she claimed the first gold medal of the championships, nearly eight seconds ahead of Wojtyra.
NORWICH, England-- Chelsea scored the fastest goal in the Premier League this season when Brazilian Kenedy's fine left-foot strike after 39 seconds helped secure a 2-1 win over relegation-threatened Norwich City at Carrow Road on Tuesday.
LONDON-- Arsenal's title hopes took another heavy blow on Wednesday after a 2-1 defeat at home to Swansea that gave the visitors' Premier League survival hopes a big boost.
BARCELONA-- Nico Rosberg gave a hint of Mercedes' true speed on Tuesday, with the fastest time on the first day of Formula One's final pre-season test, and then said there was still room for improvement.
