Spanish League, Barcelona 3-0 Athletic Bilbao. Match report and video highlights.

Barca back to their best at the Camp Nou, cruising to a 3-0 win over Athletic Bilbao. A goal for Eto'o and a fantastic contribution from Ronaldinho were the basis for the victory, leaving Barca in a stronger position at the top of the league.

Barca not only won but also showed their class and dominance. And all that against one of the best teams away from home, Mane's Athletic Bilbao, and with 3 goals in the first 45 minutes. With Eto'o back in attack, Pujol and Thuram impeccable in defence, Iniesta in control of the midfield, Guily at his incisive best and an excellent Ronaldinho, Barca gave one of their best performances of the season. Barca made it clear in the first few minutes that they intended to get the ball out to the wings and use their speed. Guily was the best example trying to surprise the defence with every attack. With Eto'o on the pitch creating and closing down space, Bilbao's defence started to leave gaps which Barca did their best to take advantage of. It was however Yeste who got a first shot at goal in the 13th minute, showing that Bilbao were determined to make Barca sweat for the 3 points. Both defences looked pretty secure in the opening stages with Bilbao well organised, while Pujol and Thuram as centrebacks gave little option to the potentially dangerous Urzaia.

It was proving somewhat difficult for Barca to make clear chances on the goal defended by Aranzubia, and it wasn't until the 19th minute that Gio had a shot deflected wide. On 22 Guily skipped past Casa and his low cross was turned into his own net by Amorebieta under pressure from Eto'o, 1-0. Spurred on by the breakthrough, Xavi had a long shot stopped by Aranzubia a minute later, and then in the 29th minute converted an excellent Eto'o pass to make it 2-0.

As the game continued Eto'o was gaining in confidence and increasingly looked like scoring. After a couple of failed attempts he broke the offside trap, latched onto a Ronaldinho pass and cooly took his time to slot a left footed shot past Aranzubia. After so many months anxious to see Eto'o score the Camp Nou celebrated as might be expected.

Bilbao brought on a forward Aduritz for a midfielder Murillo, Mané making it clear that he wasn't giving up the game. This created more space across the pitch and gave Barca even more opportunity to take advantage. Iniesta took over the midfield, moving between lines with ease. He might have scored the fourth after a wonderful move ended with his shot rebounding off the post back onto his left foot, only for him to shoot high when it seemed easier to score. Barca were 100% in control, Thuram and Puyol weren't giving anything away at the back either.

In the 59th minute Ronaldinho beat three players in a magical display of skill and from an impossibly tight angle chipped the ball over Aranzubia, only to see the keeper get a fingertip touch to the ball, enough to send it on to the bar. Fantastic stuff. Eto'o couldn't help but laugh and hold his head in his hands at the show of skill from his teammate. Soon after Eto'o was taken off to rapturous applause, replaced by Messi.

With the result no longer in doubt, Ronaldinho took over. Everytime the number 10 got the ball the crowd waited in expectation to see which trick he'd pull off. And he didn't disappoint. Treading in the ball, backheeling he left the defence in tatters. More good news for Barca when Sylvinho came on for Edmílson, his first outing after a month long injury. Gio moved into the middle and the Dutchman gave even more attacking options. The dying moments saw Barca cruise to victory, Ronaldinho and Messi showing what they can do and the Camp Nou enjoying every minute. Barca are back to their best.

Match Goals and Highlights:

Special Thanks to Mony.

If Barca Are In Crisis, We Are In Sheer Darkness - Casillas

Iker Casillas rubbished suggestions of a crisis at Barcelona, and suggested that it had just been exaggerated by the media.

"It - the Eto'o controversy - is something for the press to feast on, rather than good news for us," said Casillas during a press conference, when asked if Barcelona's problems could be good news for Real Madrid.

"A lot is being made of it, but the fact is that there are some problems in every single squad, and that's just how it is."

"If Barcelona are in crisis, then we are in sheer darkness. It is laughable to to even suggest that they are in a crisis."

"I think that the press simply exaggerated when they turned this whole thing into a big issue," he continued. "Dirty linen should never be washed in public, but maybe he [Eto'o] has his reasons to say it publicly. However, problems exist in every single squad."

Ronaldinho In Swipe At Eto’o

Barcelona’s Ronaldinho has criticised team-mate Samuel Eto’o after his refusal to come on as a substitute. Barca boss Frank Rijkaard wanted to give substitute Eto’o five minutes at the end of the game as he continues his comeback from a knee injury, but the Cameroon star did not want to play.

"Everything depends on the player and the particular situation, but it always is important to think about what's best for the team," said Ronaldinho.

Rijkaard himself revealed: "Eto'o was warming up (in the 69th minute), but later when it came to putting him on, he did not want to go. It is a pity, but I still have not been able to speak with him and I do not know the cause of his decision."

It is being reported that Eto'o had been told he would play for half-an-hour and by the end of the match he did not want to come on at all. Eto'o will now meet with Rijkaard in training to resolve the situation.

Samuel Eto'o Fils (born March 10, 1981 in Nkon, Cameroon) is a footballer, who currently plays for FC Barcelona. He is a distinguished forward who is known for his outstanding positional awareness and shooting technique. His talents have made him a leading scorer for both club and country and one of the world's top strikers. He was named African Footballer of the Year in 2003, 2004, and 2005, making him the first player to win the award three years in succession since it has been handed out by the Confederation of African Football. He was recently named as one of the strikers for the FIFPro World XI team for the second consecutive year. He was born and raised in Douala ,Cameroon.

Club career:
During his time with RCD Mallorca, he became the highest ever league goal scorer in the history of the club, with 54 goals. He signed for FC Barcelona in the summer of 2004 for a transfer fee of 24 million after a long series of three-way negotiations with Mallorca and Real Madrid. Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez said that Eto'o was not needed as they already had Ronaldo and Raúl signed as strikers. Eto'o made his debut for Barcelona in the first game of the season at Ràcing Santander, on August 29, 2004.

During Barcelona's Champions League match against Werder Bremen on September 27, 2006, he ruptured the meniscus in his right knee. Ricard Pruna, Barcelona's doctor, originally estimated that the injury would keep him out of action for two to three months.[1] However, after an operation to treat the damaged meniscus, Barcelona doctors upped the estimated recovery time to five months.

Eto’o’s 5 months absence is major blow for FC Barcelona as he is one of their most influential players. Though he will miss more than 20 matches, Joan Laporta still believes he can retain his title of "Pichichi". Eto’o himself says that he will be playing again before the five month period. Less than one month after his operation, Eto'o has been spotted in ValenciaGP, during the MotoGP, walking without crutches. Eto'o is surprising everyone with his fast progress, even after being asked not to watch Barca playing on TV.


Some of Eto'o's best Goals with Barca:


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