Eto'o earns El Clasico honours

Eto'o scores before Messi adds second in injury time at Camp Nou

Last updated: 13th December 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Eto'o earns El Clasico honours

Eto'o: Zero to hero

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Samuel Eto'o atoned for a second-half penalty failure with a late goal to help Barcelona to a 2-0 victory over Real Madrid in El Clasico at the Camp Nou.

The Cameron striker netted in the 83rd minute to ensure new real Madrid manager Juande Ramos failed to enjoy his first domestic game in charge.

And Lionel Messi then made sure of the victory in injury time to allow Barca to move 12 points clear of their fierce rivals.

Eto'o had seen Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas save a penalty earlier in the half as the game looked destined to end in stalemate but the former Bernabeu player went from zero to hero in the closing minutes.

Pep Guardiola's Primera Liga leaders started the first half looking to stamp their authority and began the game brightly.

Fiery

Real, though, had the best chance of a fiery first 45 minutes, in which Messi was singled out for aggressive treatment, as Roysten Drenthe was denied by Victor Valdes when one on one.

Barca then turned the screw after the interval and were rewarded with a penalty when Michel Salgado brought down Sergi Busquets on 70 minutes.

However, Eto'o was denied as the excellent Casillas dived low to his left to palm away the effort.

Eto'o, though, redeemed himself with seven minutes remaining as he prodded home from close range after Carles Puyol had headed down a Xavi corner.

Argentina ace Messi then sealed the victory as he chipped past Casillas in time added on after unselfish work from Thierry Henry.