Barcelona extended their lead over
second-placed Real Madrid to 10 points in the Primera Liga with a 3-0
home win over Racing Santander on Saturday.
Barca took the lead after just eight minutes when Cameroon striker
Samuel Eto'o raced onto a pass from midfielder Xavi and coolly slotted
the ball through the legs of goalkeeper Dudu.
Despite dominating the early possession Barcelona failed to press home
their advantage against a defensively-minded Racing side languishing
near the bottom of the table.
Mexican midfielder Rafael Marquez and 2004 world player of the year
Ronaldinho both squandered clear opportunities.
However, the Brazilian, playing his 50th game for the club, soon
produced a bit of magic to notch their second in the 75th minute when he
created the space to drill a long-range strike into the bottom right
corner beyond the outstretched Dudu.
The third goal came courtesy of another shot from distance, this time by
Portugal midfielder Deco whose effort looped over the stranded Dudu
after taking a deflection off a defender.
Their comfortable victory at the Nou Camp stretched Barcelona's unbeaten
run at home to a year.
Real Madrid, whose league form has improved under new Brazilian coach
Vanderlei Luxemburgo after a poor start to the season, are at home to
struggling Real Mallorca on Sunday.
DRAMATIC VICTORY
In Saturday's late game, Athletic Bilbao came from 3-0 down to secure a
dramatic 4-3 home victory over mid-table rivals Osasuna, who are also
chasing a UEFA Cup spot.
Osasuna took the lead thanks to a curling shot by Uruguayan midfielder
Pablo Garcia in the 15th minute and looked to have the game won after
the break with a header from Pierre Achille Webo and a thundering
30-metre free kick by Francisco Punal.
But Athletic's inspirational Spanish playmaker Francisco Yeste dragged
them back into the match by notching two goals in four minutes just
after the hour, including a curling 25-metre free kick that sailed into
the top right hand corner of the net.
Tiko equalised after 84 minutes before late substitute Julen Guerrero
secured the unlikeliest of victories five minutes later with a deft
volley to the delight of the San Mames crowd.
The win takes Athletic up one place to eighth in the standings, while
Osasuna slip to ninth. |