Barcelona beats Hercules 3-0 for 15th straight win

Barcelona: Barcelona avenged its only defeat in the Spanish league this season with a record-equaling 3-0

win over Hercules, provisionally moving seven points clear of second-place Real Madrid. To add to its fierce rival`s plight, Barcelona`s 15th consecutive league win equals Madrid`s record that had stood since the 1960-61 season. In this winning stretch, Barcelona has outscored its opponents 57-6. Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola called it an "immense honour" to equal Madrid`s record. Pedro Rodriguez scored the opener in the 43rd, blasting in a pass from Xavi Hernandez, and Lionel Messi scored two goals in the last three minutes to seal the win at Rico Perez stadium. Hercules had stunned the defending champions in week 2 with a 2-0 victory at Camp Nou, but Barcelona dominated throughout yesterday and could have scored more goals. "We knew this visit was important," said Barcelona right back Dani Alves. "We saw it in the first round. (Hercules) is a well-organised team and pressures a lot." Barcelona has 58 points. In an up-and-down opening, Hercules had the best chance, David Trezeguet poking Nelson Valdez`s pass just past the left post in the 21st. After the scare from the former France striker, Barcelona took control of possession and the game, and Pedro soon converted Barcelona`s dominance into its first goal. The 23-year-old Spanish international has scored 12 goals this season and eight in his last six games. The last Barcelona player to score in six straight games was Ronaldo in 1996-97. "Pedro has a knack for scoring goals," Guardiola said. "He runs a lot and pressures intensely." Barcelona smothered Hercules in its own half after the restart, with Pedro having a goal disallowed in the 65th and Messi grazing the right post from inside the area shortly afterward. Hercules played with 10 men during the last 10 minutes after Francisco Farinos was sent off for a second yellow card. Messi soon took advantage with one of his trademark left-footed shots from the edge of the area in the 87th. The Argentina star then pushed in a pass from Dani Alves for Barcelona`s third in the 89th. Messi has 37 goals - 21 in the league - and nine doubles in all competitions this season. Earlier, Sporting Gijon routed Mallorca 4-0 on Saturday for its first away win in the league this season, and Levante downed Getafe 2-0. Bureau Report