Real Madrid reduced the gap at the top of the Primera Division to eight points ahead of next week’s El Clasico as Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat-trick led them to a 5-1 victory over Deportivo La Coruna last night.

Barcelona came from behind to get their Group G campaign off to a winning start as two goals from Lionel Messi helped them beat an Aiden McGeady-inspired Spartak Moscow 3-2 at the Camp Nou.

Brazil 1 Mexico 2

Burma's top leader General Than Shwe will bow out of national elections next month, but his role in the country's political future remains unclear, a south-east Asian diplomat said today.