Messi lifts Barcelona top, Bayern stretch lead

The UEFA Champions League will return in midweek following another eye-catching round of domestic games, which featured a record-breaking Lionel Messi hat-trick as FC Barcelona took command in Spain. There was no such drama in Germany as leaders FC Bayern München extended their already handsome lead, while Paris Saint-Germain were held off the Ligue 1 summit once again and FC Shakhtar Donetsk experienced late frustration.

• Real Madrid CF were knocked off their perch at the top of the Liga following a surprise 1-0 loss at Athletic Club, Aritz Aduriz's header allowing FC Barcelona to take over in pole position.
•  FC Schalke 04 continued their push for a top-four spot in Germany with a 3-1 defeat of TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Max Meyer providing a pair of goals for the fifth-placed side.
Real Madrid v Schalke: 10 March (First leg: Schalke 0-2 Madrid)

• FC Porto's Cristian Tello followed up his hat-trick against Sporting Clube de Portugal last weekend with the only goal in a 1-0 success at SC Braga on Friday.
• Swiss league leaders FC Basel 1893 won 3-0 at home against FC Thun, Shkelzen Gashi burying a goal either side of a Marco Streller strike.
Porto v Basel: 10 March (First leg: Basel 1-1 Porto)

• Already eliminated from the FA Cup, Premier League leaders Chelsea FC enjoyed a weekend off ahead of their midweek European showdown at Stamford Bridge.
• Thiago Motta returned from injury and Blaise Matuidi notched his first Ligue 1 goal this term as Paris Saint-Germain saw off RC Lens 4-1, but Olympique Lyonnais still hold sway in top spot.
Chelsea v Paris: 11 March (First leg: Paris 1-1 Chelsea)

• FC Bayern München stand 11 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga after a fifth consecutive victory, Thomas Müller on target twice in a 3-1 success at Hannover 96.
• FC Shakhtar Donetsk were held 2-2 at FC Metalist Kharkiv despite having a man advantage for the entire second half. Darijo Srna and Luiz Adriano scored, but the Pitmen were denied at the death.
Bayern v Shakhtar: 11 March (First leg: Shakhtar 0-0 Bayern)

• Manchester City FC were not in action at the weekend after being knocked out of the FA Cup in the fourth round. 
• Lionel Messi plundered a record-breaking 32nd hat-trick since moving to Spain as FC Barcelona went top of the Liga with a 6-1 victory against Rayo Vallecano de Madrid. 
Barcelona v Manchester City: 18 March (First leg: City 1-2 Barcelona)

Dortmund's winning run came to a halt©Getty Images

• Juventus will be looking to extend their eight-point lead in Serie A when they entertain US Sassuolo Calcio on Monday.
• Borussia Dortmund's run of four successive league wins came to an end as they were held to a 0-0 stalemate at struggling Hamburger SV.
Dortmund v Juventus: 18 March (First leg: Juventus 2-1 Dortmund)

• Bayer 04 Leverkusen strengthened their hold on fourth spot courtesy of a 3-0 triumph at SC Paderborn 07, Son Heung-Min weighing in with a late double after Kyriakos Papadopoulos's opener.
• Koke fired Club Atlético de Madrid in front against Valencia CF, but the capital side had to settle for a 1-1 draw that leaves them seven points off the pace in the Liga reckoning.
Atlético v Leverkusen: 17 March (First leg: Leverkusen 1-0 Atlético)

• Arsenal FC will battle for an FA Cup semi-final berth when they travel to Old Trafford to tackle Manchester United FC on Monday evening.
• Anthony Martial and teenager Almamy Touré found the net either side of an own goal as AS Monaco FC prevailed 3-1 at Évian Thonon Gaillard FC to consolidate fourth place in France.
Monaco v Arsenal:17 March (First leg: Arsenal 1-3 Monaco)