European roundup - Barcelona wins with a Pedro hat-trick, Bayern Munich join Borussia Dortmund at the top of the table

Pedro scored a hat-trick as Barcelona registered an easy victory over Rayo Vallecano

Barcelona continued their impressive start to the campaign with a 4-0 drubbing of Rayo Vallecano. Pedro was the hero on the night for the Catalans as he bagged a hat-trick on the way to a 4-0 triumph. While Cesc Fabregas scored the fourth goal in the final stages.

Meanwhile, Atletico maintained their early season form by picking up three points against Real Valladolid at Estadio Nuevo Jose Zorrilla to keep them at top of the table in La Liga. A second-half goals from Raul Garcia in the 56th minute and on 72nd minute by Diego Costa was enough to seal all three points for the visitors.

On to Germany where Bayern Munich seized on the opportunity to go level on top with Borussia Dortmund as the latter was held to a 1-1 draw earlier in the day by Nurenberg. Meanwhile, Leverkusen are just one point behind the leaders after a thumping 4-1 victory over Mainz.

For Bayern, Bastian Schweinsteiger started the rout at Schalke on 22 minutes before striker Mario Mandzukic made it 2-0 a minute later.

After the break French winger Franck Ribery made it three, while Claudio Pizarro completed the victory with five minutes remaining.

Earlier in the day leaders Dortmund were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw at Nurnberg.

Marcel Schmelzer’s opener was cancelled out by Per Nilsson who in the second half drilled a shot past Weidenfeller to equalise for the home side to hand them their fourth draw in six matches, Nurnberg are languishing fourth from bottom.

On the other hand, Bayer Leverkusen recovered from their midweek Champions League loss and kept up the pressure on big two in Germany with a 4-1 away win at Mainz.

Robbie Kruse netted a brace either side of a Lars Bender goal, while Stefan Kiessling completed the scoring for the away side.

Mainz grabbed a consolation through Yunus Malli but they remain on nine points long with four other sides.