Eto´o keeps weary Barcelona on title path

Barcelona’s weary collection of international globe-trotters produced a workmanlike performance to beat Valladolid 1-0 on Saturday with Samuel Eto’o scoring the only goal.

Having lost three out of four matches following World Cup and international breaks this season, Pep Guardiola’s team knew that they could not afford to drop points with Real Madrid eager to capitalise.

Barcelona began the game with Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry on the bench but while they controlled the game they struggled to create openings.

That was until Eto’o coolly beat the Valladolid keeper shortly before half-time with a match-winning lob.

The second half was more even and Messi and Dani Alves were introduced to bolster a Barcelona team who restored their nine-point lead over Real who were at Malaga later Saturday.

Barcelona’s next mission is a home Champions League quarter-final first leg clash with Bayern Munich in midweek.

Villarreal, who tackle Arsenal in their last eight European tie on Tuesday, slumped to a 3-0 defeat against Almeria who won through first half goals from Alvaro Negredo, Pablo Piatti and Jose Mane.

Negredo continued his fine form setting up the other two goals after scoring the first.

With half an hour to go Robert Pires, a former Arsenal player, was sent-off for Villarreal for a foul after frustration got the better of him.

Sevilla consolidated their third place with an important 1-0 win away to Recreativo Huelva courtesy of a Frederic Kanoute penalty after 33 minutes following a foul by Poli Fernandez on Renato.

Real Betis looked to have ended their winless streak against Numancia in their relegation battle but a late penalty, which also saw keeper Ricardo Pereira sent-off, was converted by Carlos Aranda and it earned the visitors a point in a 3-3 draw.

Aranda earlier equalised Sergio Garcia’s opener for Betis and then Jose Barkero put Numancia ahead before Jesus Capi and Ricardo Oliveria turned the game around late on.

Numancia had the final say though through Aranda’s spot kick.

Athletic Bilbao ended a seven-match streak without a win with a 2-1 victory over in-form Mallorca.

Fran Yeste converted a penalty after just three minutes following a David Navarro handball and then Javi Martinez put them back ahead after Jose Jurado had equalised.

Later Saturday, Real Madrid will look to keep up the pressure on Barcelona as they face Malaga who were beaten 6-0 by the leaders in their last match.

Real will be without Arjen Robben who returned from international duty with Holland suffering from a minor knee injury.

“We are in a situation in which we cannot think of anything else but winning our own games. We can just hope that at some stage Barcelona slip-up but more important than anything else is that we win,” said Real coach Juande Ramos.

On Sunday, Atletico Madrid play Osasuna and Valencia meet Getafe looking to find more consistent form as they push for a place in the Champions League.