Barcelona extend lead at the top

Barcelona extended their lead over second-placed Real Madrid [Images] to 10 points in the Spanish Primera Liga with a 3-0 home win over Racing Santander on Saturday.

Barca took the lead after just eight minutes when Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o raced onto a pass from midfielder Xavi and coolly slotted the ball through the legs of goalkeeper Dudu.

Despite dominating the early possession Barcelona failed to press home their advantage against a defensively-minded Racing side languishing near the bottom of the table.

Mexican midfielder Rafael Marquez and 2004 world player of the year Ronaldinho [Images] both squandered clear opportunities.

However, the Brazilian, playing his 50th game for the club, soon produced a bit of magic to notch their second in the 75th minute when he created the space to drill a long-range strike into the bottom right corner beyond the outstretched Dudu.

The third goal came courtesy of another shot from distance, this time by Portugal midfielder Deco whose effort looped over the stranded Dudu after taking a deflection off a defender.

Their comfortable victory at the Nou Camp stretched Barcelona's unbeaten run at home to a year.

Real Madrid, whose league form has improved under new Brazilian coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo after a poor start to the season, are at home to struggling Real Mallorca on Sunday.

In Saturday's late game, Athletic Bilbao came from 3-0 down to secure a dramatic 4-3 home victory over mid-table rivals Osasuna, who are also chasing a UEFA [Images] Cup spot.

Osasuna took the lead thanks to a curling shot by Uruguayan midfielder Pablo Garcia in the 15th minute and looked to have the game won after the break with a header from Pierre Achille Webo and a thundering 30-metre free kick by Francisco Punal.

But Athletic's inspirational Spanish playmaker Francisco Yeste dragged them back into the match by notching two goals in four minutes just after the hour, including a curling 25-metre free kick that sailed into the top right hand corner of the net.

Tiko equalised after 84 minutes before late substitute Julen Guerrero secured the unlikeliest of victories five minutes later with a deft volley to the delight of the San Mames crowd.

The win takes Athletic up one place to eighth in the standings, while Osasuna slip to ninth.

© Copyright 2008 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.