BARCELONA // A hat-trick by Lionel Messi inspired Barcelona to an 8-0 rout of Osasuna in the Primera Liga as the champions responded with a devastating performance after a poor week by their high standards.
The Champions League holders were accused of complacency after blowing leads against Real Sociedad and AC Milan to twice draw 2-2 but they stormed into a 5-0 half-time lead against Osasuna at Camp Nou.
David Villa scored twice, Cesc Fabregas, Xavi and n own-goal by the visiting defender Roversio joined Messi on the scoresheet as Barca climbed to second in the table with seven points from their opening three matches.
"It was the same last year, people question you when you don't win but this is normal," the Barca defensive midfielder Sergio Busquets said.
"We played very well, we had a lot of chances, it was a very good performance."
Barca were in complete control against Osasuna and took the lead after five minutes when Dani Alves headed across goal for Messi to net at the far post.
Fabregas has quickly adapted to life back home and his growing understanding with the World Player of the Year Messi helped set up the second.
The former Arsenal captain chested the ball down to the Argentine and raced into the area to pick up a return lob and expertly volley past Andres Fernandez in the 13th minute.
Osasuna barely got a touch of the ball and Villa made it 3-0, rounding the keeper to score from a tight angle in the 34th.
Villa forced the fourth goal when he chased a long pass over the top and when his shot was saved the ball went in after taking a fortunate rebound off Roversio.
Just before the break Fabregas spun away from three defenders and squared for Messi to tap in, leaving Osasuna to trudge off shaking their heads.
Messi lifted a ball over the defence for Xavi to lob the sixth in the 57th minute before Fabregas squared for Villa to bag his second.
Messi, who also hit the woodwork twice, accelerated straight through the middle of Osasuna's demoralised defence to complete the scoring in the 79th minute.
Barca are two points behind leaders Valencia who were 1-0 winners at Sporting Gijón earlier in the day after striker Roberto Soldado scored his fifth league goal of the season.
Seville, in third spot, joined Barca on seven points after Frederic Kanoute scored the only goal in a 1-0 home win over Real Sociedad.
Soldado, in the running for a place in Spain's Euro 2012 squad, tapped in at the back post for Valencia after Gijón keeper Juan Pablo could only parry a shot in the 29th minute.
Valencia, held to a disappointing 0-0 draw at Racing Genk in the Champions League in midweek, maintained their 100 per cent La Liga record.
Real Madrid, Malaga and Real Betis have six points. Real Madrid visit Levante today when promoted Betis travel to Athletic Bilbao.
Malaga were 1-0 winners at Real Mallorca where a Martin Demichelis header went in off home defender Pablo Caceres just before the break.
Nigeria striker Ike Uche scored Granada's first goal in the top flight in 35 years, earning the promoted side a surprise 1-0 home win over Villarreal.
The Andalucians had lost their first two matches without scoring but Uche's powerful 56th-minute header proved decisive as Giuseppe Rossi missed a late penalty for the visitors.
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
Company%20profile
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The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
Tips to avoid getting scammed
1) Beware of cheques presented late on Thursday
2) Visit an RTA centre to change registration only after receiving payment
3) Be aware of people asking to test drive the car alone
4) Try not to close the sale at night
5) Don't be rushed into a sale
6) Call 901 if you see any suspicious behaviour
Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.
Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.
A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.
On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.
The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.
Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.
The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later.
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Cagliari v AC Milan (6pm)
Lazio v Napoli (9pm)
Inter Milan v Atalanta (11.45pm)
Sunday
Udinese v Sassuolo (3.30pm)
Sampdoria v Brescia (6pm)
Fiorentina v SPAL (6pm)
Torino v Bologna (6pm)
Verona v Genoa (9pm)
Roma V Juventus (11.45pm)
Parma v Lecce (11.45pm)
ANDROID%20VERSION%20NAMES%2C%20IN%20ORDER
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
Race card for Super Saturday
4pm: Al Bastakiya Listed US$250,000 (Dh918,125) (Dirt) 1,900m.
4.35pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,200m.
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Conditions $200,000 (Turf) 1,200m.
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 $200,000 (D) 1,600m.
6.20pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 $300,000 (T) 1,800m.
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Group 1 $400,000 (D) 2,000m.
7.30pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 $250,000 (T) 2,410m.
