Barcelona show their style and stretch their lead

League leaders Barcelona showed that, after some stuttering performances since the start of the year, they are recapturing their top form with an impressive 2-1 win over Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday.

Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto'o, whose long absences during the first half of the season badly affected Barca, got the Catalan club's goals to give them a three point lead at the top of La Liga. Messi scored on the stroke of halftime, ingeniously finding space on the edge of the area before chesting down a Ronaldinho cross and scoring with a left foot shot.

Six minutes after half time, Eto'o exploited Deportivo's defensive disarray to get Barca's second goal.

Adrian Lopez, who like Messi is still only 19 years old, outpaced Barcelona's defenders and ran from 25 metres out to the edge of the six yard box before hammering home his right foot shot to get one back for Deportivo 21 minutes from time. However, it was almost the only lapse of concentration by Barcelona all night.

Second-placed Sevilla have a game in hand and play at Celta Vigo on Sunday and but Barca have a far superior goal difference to their nearest rivals for the title.

Valencia warmed up for Wednesday's Champions League clash with Chelsea with a 3-2 win over Espanyol on Saturday.