Barcelona blasts Almeria

Oct 25, 2008 - 11:02 PM By PA SportsTicker

Barcelona swept Almeria aside with a glorious first-half display on the way to a 5-0 Primera Liga win at the Nou Camp on Saturday night.

Samuel Eto'o bagged a first-half hat trick and further goals from Thierry Henry and Dani Alves saw Pep Guardiola's side race into a five-goal lead at the interval.

And Almeria was forced to play the entire second half with 10 men after Alvaro Negredo was dismissed for a frustrated lunge on Rafael Marquez.

It was the Catalans' second 5-0 win in a week after Wednesday's demolition of FC Basle in the Champions League and their ninth consecutive victory.

The win moves Barcelona level on 19 points with Valencia at the top of the table, although Guardiola's men have played a game more.

Elsewhere, Osasuna remains without a win after eight Primera Liga matches following a disappointing defeat at home to fellow strugglers Real Betis.

Turkey midfielder Mehmet Aurelio opened the scoring six minutes after the break and Argentinian striker Mariano Pavone added a late second to lift Betis three points clear of the relegation zone.