Barca go clear as Real Madrid held at Villarreal
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-12-06 09:07

Barcelona stretched their lead over Real Madrid in the Spanish title chase this weekend as African Player of the Year Samuel Eto'o scored twice in a 4-0 win against Malaga.

Villarreal's Jose Moreno 'Josico' (R) fights for the ball with Real Madrid's Brazilian Ronaldo (L) during their Spanish League match at Madrigal stadium of Villarreal. [AFP]

Barca's seventh win out of seven home games this season puts them nine points clear of arch-rivals Real, who were held to a goalless draw at Villarreal Sunday, and Espanyol who won 1-0 at Real Zaragoza.

In fourth, Valencia, who like Barca and Real, have a vital Champions League date in midweek, were indebted to Xisco's strike four minutes from time for their 1-0 win at Albacete.

Barcelona's next date is a Champions League clash against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday.

Although they have already made it through to the next stage of the tournament, midfielder Rafael Marquez admits that the trip to strife-torn Ukraine is causing some concern.

"To be honest it probably worries a bit, but I try not to think about it too much," said Marquez.

"We are only going to play a game of football. Let's hope that nothing happens and we will try not to think about everything that is happening around us."

Barca, without French midfielder Ludovic Giuly and missing long term injury victim Henrik Larsson, opened their account at the Nou Camp when Cameroon striker Eto'o scored from a pass by Deco after 25 minutes.

Four minutes later, Deco scored a wonderful goal with a 20 metre drive and from that point there was no looking back.

Inestia hit the third goal after 71 minutes with Eto'o adding the fourth in injury time with his 12th goal of the league season.

Real Madrid, missing a string of stars including Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Guti, Raul and Roberto Carlos, nevertheless managed to create opportunities at Villarreal, with a effort from Ronaldo after 20 minutes and a David Beckham free kick ten minutes later rebuffed by the hosts' tight defence.

Real were hard-pressed in the second half to keep the Villarreal attack at bay with Iker Casillas keeping a Antonio Guayre effort out on 63 minutes, while a Lucho Figueroa goal after 79 minutes was ruled offside.

A late effort from Diego Forlan off a centre from Juan Roman Riquelme ten minutes from time proved short.

Elsewhere, bottom table Numancia threw away a 2-0 lead to fall 3-2 at fellow strugglers Real Mallorca on Sunday.

A seven-minute goal spree late in the second half handed Hector Cuper's Mallorca just their third win out of 14 games this season and first home win since last May.

Serbian striker Andrija Delibasic opened the account for Mallorca after 80 minutes and two minutes later Luis Garcia got the equaliser before netting the winner with his second after 87 minutes.

Numancia had gone ahead after 21 minutes through Luis Garcia Tevenet with Juan Carlos Moreno scoring their second after 68 minutes.

Valencia coach Claudio Ranieri was far from happy with his side's showing after a last gasp goal from Xisco gave them three points at Albacete.

"We played badly," said the Italian. "Albacete played better than us but that's football.

"We were probably thinking about our Champions League match with Werder Bremen next week.

"But this win means we can look ahead to that match with confidence."

Espanyol added to the woes of Real Zaragoza thanks to a 36 minute goal from captain Raul Tamudo after good work from Ivan De la Pena and Dani.

Real Sociedad ended Betis's 10 match unbeaten run after striker Darko Kovacevic scored the only goal in the tie from the edge of the area eight minutes before halftime.

Second half goals from Julio Baptista and Carlitos sealed a 2-0 home win for Sevilla at the expesne of Athletic Bilbao.

A late goal from Deportivo La Coruna's Uruguayan striker Walter Pandiani gave the Gallican side a 2-2 draw at Racing Santander.

Santander had taken the lead after 23 minutes through their Israeli international striker Yossi Benayoun, with Deportivo drawing level four minutes after the break withe a penalty from Alberto Luque.

The hosts looked as if they had sealed the winner four minutes times with a Javi Guerrero effort before Pandiani struck three minutes into extra time.

Spanish league standings after Sunday's matches (played, won, drawn, lost, goals for, goals against, points):

Barcelona 14 11 2 1 30 8 35

Real Madrid 14 8 2 4 21 9 26

Espanyol 14 8 2 4 16 8 26

Valencia 14 7 4 3 22 11 25

Sevilla 14 7 3 4 16 15 24

Atletico Madrid 14 6 4 4 17 12 22

Real Betis 14 5 6 3 18 17 21

Deportivo La Coruna 14 5 6 3 18 19 21

Osasuna 14 6 2 6 20 22 20

Levante 14 6 2 6 16 20 20

Real Zaragoza 14 5 3 6 19 20 18

Real Sociedad 14 5 3 6 15 17 18

Racing Santander 14 4 4 6 12 18 16

Villarreal 14 3 6 5 14 11 15

Athletic Bilbao 14 4 3 7 17 20 15

Getafe 14 4 2 8 12 18 14

Albacete 14 3 5 6 11 18 14

Real Mallorca 14 3 4 7 13 20 13

Malaga 14 3 3 8 10 19 12

Numancia 14 3 2 9 10 25 11

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