MADRID -- Two goals apiece from Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto'o and a trademark solo effort from Lionel Messi fired Barcelona to a 5-0 win over Deportivo Coruna in the Primera Liga on Saturday.
|
Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o (R) and Lionel Messi celebrate a goal against Deportivo La Coruna during their Spanish First Division soccer match at Nou Camp Stadium in Barcelona January 17, 2009. [Agencies] |
The win cemented the Catalans' 12-point lead at the top of the standings after Sevilla's 1-0 home win over Numancia, Renato's late strike settling a scrappy match and moving the Andalusians above Real Madrid into second.
|
Barcelona's Thierry Henry (L) and Erik Abidal celebrate a goal against Deportivo La Coruna during their Spanish First Division Soccer League match at Nou Camp Stadium in Barcelona January 17, 2009. [Agencies] |
Messi opened the scoring at the Nou Camp on 21 minutes when he picked up a pass from Xavi wide on the right, raced through a crowd of defenders and wrong-footed keeper Daniel Aranzubia with a low shot off the right-hand post.
|
Sevilla's Renato is congratulated by his team mates after scoring against Numancia during their Spanish First Division soccer match at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Seville January 17, 2009. [Agencies] |
Henry netted shortly after with a powerful header from a Daniel Alves cross and Eto'o drove home the rebound from Seydou Keita's header to give Barca a 3-0 lead at the break.
Henry grabbed his second with just under 10 minutes left, side-footing into the net after a pass from Andres Iniesta released Xavi on the right.
Aranzubia was then dismissed after he felled Carles Puyol in the penalty area and Eto'o stroked the ball in from the spot, the league top scorer's 18th goal of the season.
Barca have now amassed a record number of points for the first half of a season, with 50 from 19 matches, eclipsing the previous best of 47 set by Real Madrid last term.
Coach Pep Guardiola praised his players for their spirit but said the record was meaningless unless Barca were crowned champions at the end of the season.
"It's just one step further," he told a news conference. "There are still 19 more matches and 57 points available. We're not champions of anything yet."
Agencies
