Barca win 4-0 away to go clear at the top

MADRID, Mar 18 (Reuters) Two goals from Samuel Eto'o helped put Barcelona three points clear at the top of the table as they crushed Recreativo Huelva 4-0 away in the Primera Liga today.

The Cameroon striker looked back to his best after injury, scoring either side of a Gianluca Zambrotta goal in the first half.

Lionel Messi added a fourth at the end as Barca cruised to their first away win in the league in eight attempts.

The defending champions have 53 points, three ahead of second-placed placed Sevilla who host Celta Vigo today.

Valencia's title challenge suffered a setback when they were beaten 2-0 at home by Racing Santander to remain third on 47.

Racing's Nikola Zigic nodded down for Pedro Munitis to acrobatically volley the opener after 20 minutes against a Valencia side who were off the pace throughout.

Defender Oriol's header from a corner in the second half settled the game for Racing, who climbed to eighth in the table on 40 points.

Real Madrid, who are fourth with 45, receive relegation-threatened Gimnastic in the Bernabeu on Sunday, when fifth-placed Real Zaragoza are at home against sixth-placed Atletico Madrid.

Further down the table, two goals in the first three minutes gave Real Mallorca a 2-0 home win over Real Betis.

REUTERS PDS PM0424