Eto'o bags four to keep Barca straddling summit

MADRID: Samuel Eto'o and Gonzalo Higuain both scored four goals in an incredible Saturday night of football as Barcelona thrashed Valladolid 6-0 while Real Madrid laboured to a 4-3 triumph over Malaga.

Barca romped to their eighth successive Spanish league victory to stay two points clear of defending champions Real at the summit.

With the help of the unstoppable Lionel Messi, Cameroon international Eto'o scored four times - in the 12th, 30th, 42nd and 44th minutes - in an unforgettable first half at the Nou Camp before Eidur Gudjohnsen and Thierry Henry got on the scoresheet in the second period.