Barcelona continued their stunning recent form with a 6-0 thrashing of Real Valladolid with Samuel Eto’o netting four goals – incredibly on the same night as Real Madrid rival Gonzalo Higuain managed the same feat.
Barca’s eight successive La Liga victory keeps them two points clear ahead of reigning champions Real at the top of the table.
Cameroon international Eto’o scored four times in a stunning opening period, before Eidur Gudjohnsen and Thierry Henry added further strikes in the second period.
“The victory was the most important thing not how many goals we score,” said Eto’o. “We produced a great performance tonight and are doing well.
“It wasn’t easy as Valladolid are a good team and brave opponents.”
Asked on how he would celebrate his four-goal haul Eto’o replied: “I will celebrate at home.”
The goals completed a remarkable turnaround for the African, who looked to be on his way out of the Nou Camp in the summer before being handed a second chance by new coach Pep Guardiola.
Barca are averaging more than three goals a game this season having scored 34 goals in their first 10 matches.
Earlier in the day, Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain had also netted four goals, including two from the penalty spot, as Real struggled to overcome a stubborn Malaga side.
Real looked to be heading for an embarrassing home defeat to promoted Malaga after Sergio Ramos had been sent off for stamping close to half-time and Antonio Apono had fired Malaga into a 3-2 lead with a 70th-minute penalty.
But the 20-year-old Higuain, out to impress new Argentina coach Diego Maradona, rescued Real scoring the equaliser straight from the kick off and then a dramatic penalty winner on 78 minutes after his initial spot-kick had been saved.
“He (Higuain) is clearly playing in his favoured position (centre-forward) where he can use his speed and dribbling ability,” lauded Real coach Bernd Schuster.
“I am delighted how things are going for him at the moment although I told him that he could change his penalty-taking style a little.”
Higuain now has nine goals for the season and is set for a run in the team with Ruud van Nistelrooy sidelined with a knee injury.
