Chelsea cruises

London: Chelsea overcame in-form Championship side Derby County 2-0 in the FA Cup third round on Sunday, after West Ham United were thrashed 5-0 by Nottingham Forest.

Derby have won 10 of their 15 league games since former England manager Steve McClaren took over, but they fell to second-half goals from John Mikel Obi and Oscar as Chelsea set up a fourth-round meeting with Stoke City.

Chelsea enjoyed the best of the first half at Pride Park but they were largely restricted to pot shots from distance. As Chelsea continued to labour in the second period, manager Jose Mourinho introduced Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres from the bench, and in the 66th minute the visitors made the breakthrough.

Hazard’s trickery wide on the left yielded a free-kick and from Willian’s wicked, in-swinging cross, Mikel glanced home. Oscar got on the score-sheet shortly afterwards, gathering a pass from Hazard and beating Lee Grant at his near post with a powerful shot.

Arsenal beat Spurs, Villa out

Meanwhile, Premier League leaders Arsenal showed their class as they comfortably beat north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 to book a place in the fourth round.

Goals from forward Santi Cazorla and midfielder Tomas Rosicky, after 31 and 62 minutes respectively, sealed a smooth passage for the 10-times winners after an open contest in which the visitors played their part.

But seven-times winners Aston Villa crashed 1-2 at home to third tier Sheffield United in the third round.

Sanchez hat-trick powers Barcelona

Madrid: Barcelona moved back to the top of La Liga on goal difference with a comfortable 4-0 win over Elche on Sunday thanks to a hat-trick from Alexis Sanchez.

The Catalans are tied with Atletico Madrid on 49 points with the two set to meet for the first time in the league this season next weekend at the Vicente Calderon.

Lionel Messi was once again watching from the sidelines as he nears a comeback from a hamstring injury and Neymar was left on the bench having recently returned from a Christmas break in Brazil.

On Saturday, Atletico Madrid needed a second-half goal from midfielder Jorge “Koke” Resurreccion to eke out a 1-0 win at Malaga. Valencia’s Juan Antonio Pizzi, debuted with a 2-0 win over Levante.