Barcelona smashes Deportivo
Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto’o both struck twice as Barcelona thrashed Deportivo La Coruna at the Nou Camp tonight to amass a record total of 50 points at the league’s halfway stage.
Lionel Messi gave Pep Guardiola’s side the lead with a fine individual strike after 21 minutes and Henry headed the Catalans two up shortly afterwards following a fine cross by Dani Alves.
Eto’o then added a third four minutes before half-time to put the league leaders out of reach at the break.
Henry struck his second of the night late on from close range and Eto’o blasted home the fifth from the penalty spot after Deportivo goalkeeper Daniel Aranzubia had upended Carles Puyol.
The visitors were forced to finish the game with 10 men after Aranzubia was sent off for his challenge on the Barca captain.
Renato’s late strike gave Sevilla an unconvincing 1-0 win over promoted side Numancia and saw the Andalusians move provisionally into second place.
The Brazilian midfielder struck with nine minutes left to wrap up a barely-deserved victory against a Numancia side who had missed a host of chances in the first 45 minutes and been reduced to 10 men shortly after half-time when Domingo Cisma was sent off for a second bookable offense.