By Mark Elkington
MADRID, March 17 - Two goals from Samuel Eto'o
helped put Barcelona three points clear at the top of the
Primera Liga after crushing Recreativo Huelva 4-0 on Saturday.
The Cameroon striker looked back to his best after injury,
scoring either side of a Gianluca Zambrotta goal in the first
half. Lionel Messi added a fourth at the end as Barca cruised to
their first away league win in eight attempts.
The champions have 53 points from 27 games, three ahead of
second-placed Sevilla who host Celta Vigo on Sunday.
Valencia's title challenge suffered a setback after a 2-0
home defeat by Racing Santander left them third on 47 points.
Racing's Nikola Zigic nodded down for Pedro Munitis to
acrobatically volley the opener after 20 minutes against a
Valencia side off the pace throughout.
Defender Oriol's header from a second-half corner sealed the
win for Racing, who climbed to eighth on 40 points.
Real Madrid, fourth with 45, host relegation-threatened
Gimnastic at the Bernabeu on Sunday when fifth-placed Real
Zaragoza also entertain Atletico Madrid, who are sixth.
EARLY GOAL
Barca made a flying start in Huelva when Eto'o caught keeper
Javier Lopez Vallejo flat-footed with a swerving shot from
outside the area after three minutes.
That goal set up the rest of the match as the visitors
played almost at walking pace, dominating possession.
Although Recre hit the post midway through the half, a
superb passing move in the 40th minute put Italian defender
Zambrotta clear to dink the ball over the keeper.
Two minutes later, Silvinho's deep cross from the left was
volleyed in at the far post by Eto'o.
Recre's Nigerian striker Ikechukwu Uche threatened
intermittently after the break as Barca eased off.
But four minutes from time Argentine forward Messi stole the
ball and streaked across the edge of the area past three
defenders to bury a shot in the far corner.