Sport - Football

Barcelona thrashes Atletico

— PHOTO: AFP

Lionel Messi.

MADRID: Samuel Eto’o scored twice and Lionel Messi once to spearhead FC Barcelona’s 6-1 romp over Atletico Madrid in the Spanish League football on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Adriano scored a goal each to give Inter Milan a 2-1 win over Bologna and a share of the first place in Italian Serie ‘A.’

Barcelona joined Valencia at 13 points to trail leader Villarreal by three points. Villarreal rallied for a 2-1 victory over Real Betis earlier.

Rafael Marquez opened Barcelona’s perfect start with a third-minute header before Eto’o’s penalty and Messi’s audacious free-kick made it 3-0 after nine minutes.

Eidur Gudjohnsen and Thierry Henry also contributed to the goal parade and Messi was unlucky not to add a highlight reel goal after Eto’o’s second. Maxi Rodriguez curled in Atletico’s lone goal in the 13th.

The Barcelona-Atletico match was billed as a showdown between two of Argentina’s best players, but Messi stole the show from Argentina teammate and Atletico striker Sergio Aguero, who was ineffective and substituted in the 58th. Messi was replaced by Bojan Krkic with 20 minutes to play.

Earlier, Villarreal rallied for a 2-1 victory over Real Betis thanks to second half goals from Gonzalo Rodriguez and Joseba Llorente.

Gonzalo headed Ariel Ibagaza’s free-kick over an outstretched Betis goalkeeper Casto Espinosa in the 69th and Llorente completed the comeback with a volley a minute later.

Betis would rue its inability to convert a number of early opportunities even if Damia connected with Mark Rodriguez’s cross for the first goal conceded at El Madrigal in more than eight months.

In Italy, Ibrahimovic volleyed in a short cross from Adriano with his heel in the 25th minute to give Inter Milan the lead.

Adriano converted a penalty in the 50th for his first goal in Serie ‘A’ since last October.

Inter defender Javier Zanetti let a ball bounce off his chest and go right to Bologna’s Vangelis Moras, who shot into an open net from close range in the 56th.

After upsetting AC Milan 2-1 in the first game of the season, Bologna has lost five straight and had not scored another goal until Moras connected.

Inter and Lazio, which drew 1-1 with visiting Lecce, have 13 points each. Napoli has 11 points, while Udinese and Catania follow with 10 points each.

With defenders Marco Materazzi and Nicolas Burdisso suspended and Christian Chivu and Maxwell out injured, Inter coach Jose Mourinho had to put together a patchwork defence.

The situation deteriorated further when Nelson Rivas left the game in the 73rd with an injury, forcing Mourinho to replace him at central defence with midfielder Esteban Cambiasso. Zanetti, another midfielder, was already playing at left back.

In Rome, substitute Simone Inzaghi scored a late goal to give Lazio the draw with newly promoted Lecce.

Inzaghi knocked in a loose ball in the 89th that Lecce had failed to clear. The goal came after Lazio had laid siege to Lecce’s goal for most of the second-half.

The results: On Saturday: Spanish League: Villarreal 2 (Gonzalo 69, Llorente 70) bt Real Betis 1 (Damia 20); Barcelona 6 (Marquez 3, Eto’o 6-pen, 18, Messi 9, Gudjohnsen 28, Henry 73) bt Atletico Madrid 1 (Maxi Rodriguez 13).

Italian Serie ‘A’: Inter Milan 2 (Ibrahimovic 25, Adriano 50-pen) bt Bologna 1 (Moras 56); Lazio 1 (Inzaghi 89) drew with Lecce 1 (Tiribocchi 36). — Agencies

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu