Football / European Round-Up: Romario terrorises sorry Real

ROMARIO, the mercurial Brazilian international, struck a hat-trick as Barcelona thrashed Real Madrid 5-0 in front of a crowd of 117,000 in the Nou Camp on Saturday.

It was the most humiliating defeat the Catalans have inflicted on Real since 1944-45, when the pride of the Spanish capital lost by the same margin in Barcelona. Real, who have not won away to their great rivals for 10 years, dominated the opening 20 minutes, but Romario's 25th-minute opener, set up by Josep Guardiola, was a prelude to a spectacular second- half display by the home side.

Ronald Koeman, with an unstoppable spot kick, extended the lead three minutes after the interval, while the impudent Romario added further strikes in the 57th and 81st minutes and then set up the fifth for Ivan Iglesias.

Second-placed Barcelona are two points behind Deportivo La Coruna, who enjoyed a 3-0 home win over Logrones last night. Claudio Barragan, Deportivo's Spanish international striker, was on target in the 42nd and 44th minutes while Brazil's Donato added the third a minute after half-time.

In the Netherlands, Hans Gillhaus, the former Aberdeen striker, hit the first goal for third-placed Vitesse Arnhem as they beat NAC Breda 3-1 to maintain their pursuit of the leaders, Ajax, and Feyenoord. Fourth-placed PSV Eindhoven, having a bad season by their high standards, drew 0-0 at Twente Enschede.