Barcelona 5 - 0 Almeria --- Betis 2 - 0 Osasuna


For the second time in four days Barcelona scored five early goals to wrap up a match. After the midweek win in Basel, this Saturday they beat Almería 5-0 to head up the table pending Sunday's games. All the goals this time came in the first half, with Eto'o opening the scoring in the fifth minute after Carlos García could only head Touré Yayá's pass up in to his path.

Henry turned in the second from Messi's cross, and a rapid passing move between Iniesta and Xavi set up Eto'o for the third. Eto'o completed his hat-trick with a clever back-heel after a great run by Messi, and a frustrated Negredo got himself sent off for an aggressive tackle on Márquez before Dani Alvés drilled a long free kick past his namesake to wrap things up.

Earlier in the evening Betis won 0-2 at Osasuna, a result which left the Pamplona based side further down in the drop zone without a win to their name all season. Ezquerro could have given them the lead though in the first half had he not had a goal ruled out for a dubious offside, but a poor defensive wall let through a Mehmet Aurelio free kick to put the visitors ahead five minutes after the restart. And Pavone rubbed salt in the wound late on when he scrambled the ball in to the net after Ricardo had spilled Emaná's wide free kick, ensuring a victory which takes the Andalusians safely up to mid-table. (25.10.08)