Eto'o shines for stylish Barça

Eto'o shines for stylish Barça

Samuel Eto'o scored twice as FC Barcelona pulled three points clear at the top of the Primera División with a 4-0 win away to RC Recreativo de Huelva on Saturday.
HungerOut of the UEFA Champions League, Barcelona stepped up their defence of the Spanish crown with a scintillating first-half performance that contrasted sharply to the sluggishness that has plagued too many of their performances this year. Their hunger was epitomised by Eto'o who, looking sharp again following his return from injury, put Barça in front only three minutes in with a long-range shot that wrong-footed López Vallejo in the Recreativo goal.
Messi brillianceRecreativo had their chances and might have drawn level on 23 minutes had Barber not snatched at his shot from seven metres with only Víctor Valdés to beat. But with Barcelona back to their fluent best it was not long before the home side were made to pay. Lionel Messi was the provider on 40 minutes, teeing up Gianluca Zambrotta who chipped in his first for the Catalan club, before Eto'o knocked in his second of the night at the far post two minutes later. Recreativo tightened up after the break but could not prevent Messi adding a fourth following a superb solo run four minutes from time. It was Messi's fourth goal in eight days following his hat-trick against Real Madrid CF last Saturday. Valencia defeatedVictory took Barcelona three points clear of second-placed Sevilla FC who host RC Celta de Vigo on Sunday, and six clear of third-placed Valencia CF, whose title challenge suffered a setback when lost 2-0 at home against Real Racing Club Santander. Racing's Nikola Žigić nodded down for Pedro Munitis to acrobatically volley the opener after 20 minutes against a Valencia side who were off the pace throughout. Defender Oriol's header in the second half settled the game for Racing, who climbed to eighth in the table on 40 points. Elsewhere, RCD Mallorca eased their relegation fears with a 2-0 win against Real Betis Balompié. Real Madrid CF, in fourth, are at home to relegation-threatened CG Tarragona on Sunday.
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