Samuel Eto'o's superb strike gave Spanish champions Barcelona a 1-0 win over Villarreal in the Spanish Primera Liga at the Nou Camp on Friday. The Cameroon international scored what proved to be the winner early in the first half to help Barcelona edge closer to their second successive league title. The victory maintained Barca's position on top of the league table with 73 points, 14 ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, who face Getafe on Saturday. French midfielder Ludovic Giuly almost opened the score for Barcelona after just seven minutes when Andres Iniesta picked him out on the right flank but the former Monaco's shot went wide. Three minutes later, in-form Eto'o broke the deadlock when he controlled Oleguer's long ball inside the box and faked a great move to deceive the marking defender before sending a powerful low-shot into the net. In the 31st minute, Villarreal's Cesar Arzo hit a brilliant double-kick inside the area but was superbly denied by Catalans' keeper Victor Valdes. In the 64th minute, Eto'o sent a through pass to Argentinean striker Maxi Lopez who beat his marker but his shot went just over the bar. Villarreal had a chance to equalize seven minutes before the final whistle when Jose Mari failed to score from the rebound after Josico's initial effort was blocked by Valdes.
