Eto'o leads classy Barca to 3-0 win over Osasuna
Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o scored two and set up another to steer the Spanish champions to a classy 3-0 victory over Osasuna at the Nou Camp on Saturday.
The Cameroon international put his side in front with just over a minute on the clock, added a second after racing on to a clever lofted pass from Deco and set up Argentine teenager Lionel Messi for the third before the half was up.
The victory made it two wins out of two for the Catalans who begin the defence of their Champions League crown at home to Bulgarian side Levski Sofia on Tuesday.
Valencia also made it two from two after an early goal from Spain striker David Villa earned them a gritty 1-0 win away to Atletico Madrid.
Atletico were caught napping in the seventh minute when Villa stole a march on their back four to steer home a cross from winger Vicente after he had steamed down the left.
The home side improved as the game wore on and looked more dangerous up front when 23 million euro ($29.25 million) new boy Sergio Aguero came on at the start of the second half.
Valencia were on the ropes when defender Emiliano Moretti was sent off for a rash challenge on Juan Valera 24 minutes from time.
But Atletico's numerical advantage lasted just 10 minutes before striker Fernando Torres followed him down the tunnel after he complained about being booked when Valencia keeper Santiago Canizares went to ground in the area.
Champions Barcelona got off to a dream start in front of their home fans with a beautifully fashioned goal.
Ronaldinho skipped down the right flank towards the area and exchanged an intricate one-two with Deco before cutting a pass back towards the near post where Eto'o was on hand to stab the ball past Osasuna keeper Ricardo.
Barca settled into their usual slick passing game for the next 25 minutes before Eto'o added a second goal to take his tally for the season to three.
The Barca striker hooked the ball over the advancing Ricardo after he had latched on to a deep pass from Deco that had skimmed off the head of an Osasuna defender.
Eto'o set up his side's third eight minutes before the break when he snapped up the ball after pressing Ricardo into a mistake as he tried to clear his area.
He cut the ball back to Messi who threaded a low shot between Ricardo's legs to make it 3-0.
Barca eased up in the second half but Messi and substitute Ludovic Giuly both went close to adding a fourth late in the game.
New signing Lilian Thuram, who was in the starting line-up in preference to skipper Carles Puyol, gave an assured performance in the centre of the back four, restricting the visitors to just one clear shot on goal two minutes from time.