Eto’o keeps Barcelona snapping at Osasuna’s heels
A goal after two minutes from man of the moment Samuel Eto’o provided the platform for Frank Rijkaard’s side to kept tabs on Osasuna at the summit.
Getafe goalkeeper Luis Garcia produced a series of tremendous saves from Thiago Motta and Ronaldinho in the first half but he was beaten again on the hour mark when Ronaldinho and Eto’o combined to set up Ludovic Giuly for an easy tap-in.
Ten minutes later Barca were three clear when Motta scored from a free kick. Mario Andrés Pernía pulled one back for Getafe with a 30-yard contender for goal of the season in the 88th minute but it was not enough to spoil Barca’s celebrations.
Osasuna head the table on 21, two clear of Barcelona and three ahead of Real Madrid, who scraped a 1-0 win at home to Real Zaragoza last night thanks to a late penalty from Roberto Carlos.
The Brazilian full-back fired home from the spot 12 minutes from time after Robinho was adjudged to have been fouled by Zaragoza defender Leonardo Ponzio. Real were on the ropes for much of the second half, but high-quality keeping from Iker Casillas allowed them to hang on for a vital home win. Jonathan Woodgate was forced to leave the pitch in the 23rd minute with a thigh injury.
Also yesterday Real Betis, who claimed a shock 1-0 victory over Chelsea in the Champions League in midweek, were brought down to earth when they were held to a 1-1 draw at Racing Santander.
Malaga and Deportivo Coruna also shared the points with a 1-1 draw at La Rosaleda, while Sevilla and Atletico Madrid were unable to find the net in an entertaining 0-0 draw at the Sanchez Pizjuan.
On Saturday, headed goals from Raul Garcia and Carlos Cuellar helped continue the fairytale for Osasuna as they won 2-1 at Real Sociedad.
Nevertheless, Osasuna coach Javier Aguirre continued to insist that his team had to think about the bottom of the table rather than the top. “We are still 18 points short of our first target, which is to ensure that we stay up,” said Aguirre, semi-seriously as Osasuna have been perennial strugglers against relegation since returning to the top flight in 2000.
Raul Garcia headed home an Enrique Corrales cross to put Osasuna in front after 33 minutes. Xabi Prieto then levelled for Sociedad from the penalty spot two minutes before half time after Osasuna’s Valdo had handled. The La Liga leaders were not to be denied three points though and Carlos Cuellar got Osasuna’s winner after 67 minutes.
In Italy, AC Milan crushed Udinese 5-1 to rack up their eighth successive Serie A win but stayed second behind Juventus, who enjoyed a smooth 3-0 win over Livorno yesterday.
Gilardino, Seedorf, Pirlo, Gilardino and Kakà were all on target for AC.
Juventus now have 30 points from 11 matches, two ahead of Milan and five clear of third-placed Fiorentina who beat Ascoli 2-0. Elsewhere, Chievo Verona beat Siena 1-0 to climb to fifth on 19 points, one fewer than Inter Milan who drew 0-0 with Lazio on Saturday. AS Roma climbed to sixth with a 2-0 win over Messina.
Champions Juventus were aiming to resume normal service after losing their 100% record in the 3-1 defeat to Milan last weekend. Livorno’s resistance finally cracked on the hour. Patrick Vieira hoisted a long ball into the area and Zlatan Ibrahimovic conjured up a spectacular lob-volley over Amelia. A minute later David Trezeguet grabbed Juve’s second with a header. Alessandro Del Piero wrapped up the result with a goal on the break in stoppage time.
In France, Olympique Lyon extended their winning league run to six games with a 1-0 victory at struggling Toulouse, while rivals Girondins Bordeaux also won on Saturday. An early Sidney Govou goal was enough for leaders Lyon to take all three points in Toulouse. The four-time champions remain the only unbeaten side in all competitive games in the major European leagues.
In Germany, Bayern Munich surged five points clear at the top of the Bundesliga with a 3-1 victory at home to closest rivals Werder Bremen on Saturday, helped by Roy Makaay’s first goal since August 27.
Bremen took the lead inside a minute with a Miroslav Klose header but Bastian Schweinsteiger equalised and Claudio Pizarro put the champions ahead in the 34th minute. Makaay got the third just before the break.
Hamburg SV had a goalless draw at Borussia Moenchengladbach.
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