Sat Jan 12 18:17:16 2008

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Eto'o leads Barcelona over Real Murcia

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Barcelona, Spain (Sports Network) - Samuel Eto'o scored twice in his last game before leaving Barcelona to join Cameroon for the African Nations Cup in a 4-0 victory over Real Murcia on Saturday.

Eto'o scored in the 77th and 87th minutes to put two exclamation points on the victory. Eidur Gudjohnsen (27th minute) and teenage sensation Bojan Krkic (52) had the other goals.

Barcelona picked up ground on idle Real Madrid, which plays Sunday. Barcelona is in second place, four points behind the leaders.

Gudjohnsen opened the scoring midway through the first half when he volleyed a cross from Gianluca Zambrotta into the left side of the net.

Barcelona striker Thierry Henry set up the next two goals with perfect crosses into the box.

Henry set up Krkic by making a nice move on the left side of the box to slot a pass by Murcia goalie Antonio Notario. Krkic merely had to knock the ball into an open net for his third goal.

Henry again proved to be dangerous on the left side to set up the first of two by Eto'o. Henry crossed into box in front of three defenders to find Eto'o and he had not trouble tapping the ball into the net.

Eto'o added his second goal 10 minutes later and came off go a huge ovation in the 89th minute. He will be with Cameroon for the Africa Nations Cup, which is Jan. 20 to Feb. 10.

In Saturday's other match, Francisco Javier Yeste and Nestor Susaeta scored to help Athletic Bilbao jump from 17th to ninth with a 2-0 win over Sevilla.

Sevilla is eighth, four points ahead of Athletic Bilbao but less than 10 ahead of 19th-place Deportivo.

On Sunday, Levante hosts Real Madrid, Real Betis hosts Getafe, Osasuna hosts Racing, Real Valladolid hosts Recreativo, Almeria hosts Espanyol, Villarreal hosts Deportivo, Atletico Madrid hosts Valencia and Real Zaragoza hosts Mallorca.