Formidable Barcelona hit Malaga for six goals

Barcelona showed Real Madrid they will take some budging from the top of the table with an emphatic 6-0 home win over Malaga on Sunday to restore their six-point cushion over the champions.

A few hours earlier Real had defeated Almeria 3-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu to cut Barcelona's lead to three points, but Pep Guardiola's side responded by cutting poor Malaga to shreds.

Xavi, Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto'o were all on target in a sensational first 45 minutes and Malaga couldn't wait for the half-time whistle.

It was more of the same in the second half with Eto'o scoring his second on 56 minutes while marauding right back Dani Alves 51 also netted.

"It is one more game gone," said Eto'o. "I always have a chance of scoring in this team. We just want to push on now and carry on with this form after the international break."

Barcelona have plundered 84 goals this season at an average of three goals a game and are well on course to reach a century before the end of the season.

Cameroon attacker Eto'o leads the way with 25 goals while Messi has 19 for the season and Henry a creditable 15.

The trio were on the scoresheet against Malaga but Brazilian Alves had the honour of scoring the goal of the game heading in after a sublime pass from Andres Iniesta had carved the visitors open.

"It was a great assist from Andres. I didn't have to do much just help it along," said Alves. "I don't score many with my head to be honest most of the ones I have scored have been own goals!

"We are not watching what Real are doing. If we don't slip up and keep winning it is in our hands."

Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar made it eight goals in his last six games with a brace as Real Madrid eased to a 3-0 win over Almeria.

Legendary Real old boy Hugo Sanchez, now coach at Almeria, grabbed the pre-match attention on his return to the Santiago Bernabeu, but it was Huntelaar who stole the headlines with a clinical second-half double.

Brazilian Marcelo, jeered by his own fans this season, silenced the doubters with a 23rd minute opener before Huntelaar showed his predatory instincts in the 52nd and 65th minutes to wrap up the points.

"Marcelo is growing as player day by day and is getting better playing on the left hand side," said Real coach Juande Ramos. "He scored a fantastic goal and that is great for his confidence."

"I don't worry about people saying I am a defensive coach. We promised three goals a game and in the last six games the statistics they have scored 22 goals speak for themselves."

Real struck first on 23 minutes with Marcelo driving home from outside the area with his weaker right foot.

Marcelo hit the crossbar early in the second period before Huntelaar rifled a volley into the roof of the net. The Dutch forward added a second with a neat finish after Almeria failed to clear their lines.

Espanyol, one of the few teams to beat Barcelona this season, are adrift at the bottom eight points from safety.





Malaysia" festival in Kuala Lumpur. REUTERS/Zainal Abd Halim