Pedro fires Barcelona, Liverpool top

Wednesday, 25 December 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

REUTERS: Barcelona and Atletico Madrid continued to set the pace in Spain’s La Liga with come-from-behind wins and Real Madrid stayed five points adrift by grabbing a late winner against Valencia. Liverpool moved top of the English Premier League as Luis Suarez scored twice in a 3-1 win over Cardiff City but Arsenal can move back to the summit by beating Chelsea on Monday.

Juventus ended the year five points clear at the top of Italy’s Serie A following a 4-1 win at Atalanta and Inter scored late to win the Milan derby 1-0. Barcelona and Atletico Madrid had to come from behind for victories which kept them neck-and-neck at the top of La Liga with the Catalan side ahead on goal difference. Barca were without leading strikers Lionel Messi and Neymar through injury and suspension but Pedro came to the fore with a quickfire hat-trick in a 5-2 win over Getafe. Diego Costa struck twice for Atletico who started slowly but maintained their 100 percent home record with a 3-2 win over Levante. Third-placed Real Madrid needed a late winner by substitute Jese to beat Valencia 3-2 and they trail the top two by five points. Liverpool went top of the Premier League with a 3-1 win over Cardiff City on Saturday, Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez scoring twice to celebrate signing a new contract with his 18th and 19th goals of the season. They are on 36 points from 17 matches. Manchester City moved up to second, hitting back after a bizarre Vincent Kompany own goal to win 4-2 at lowly Fulham and champions Manchester United continued their recent revival with a 3-1 home victory over West Ham United.