MADRID, 19 September 2006 — European and Spanish champions Barcelona eased their way to a 3-0 win away at struggling Racing Santander to keep pace with leaders Sevilla in the Primera Liga on Sunday.
Goals from Samuel Eto’o, Ludovic Giuly and a Ronaldinho penalty secured the win, their third in three games in the league, to put them level on nine points with Sevilla and Valencia.
Sevilla are top on goal difference after Brazilian midfielder Renato scored a late winner to give them a 3-2 home win over city rivals Real Betis.
The UEFA Cup holders took the lead through Mali’s Frederic Kanoute in the 26th minute, but Betis’s Rafael Sobis scored either side of the break to put the visitors ahead.
Kanoute leveled in the 58th minute and six minutes from time Renato scored with a great solo effort to give Juande Ramos’s side victory.
Third-placed Valencia became the first side to score against Getafe this season when Fernando Morientes headed home just before the break and winger Vicente made it 2-0 from the penalty spot in the second half.
In the Bernabeu, Jose Antonio Reyes and David Beckham scored to give Real Madrid a 2-0 win over Real Sociedad that put them fourth with seven points. After a dull first half, Reyes opened his account for Real with a curling free kick in the 69th minute, and four minutes later the visitors were reduced to 10 men as Mikel Aranburu was sent off.
Beckham replaced Reyes as a second-half substitute soon after, and ran the length of the pitch to double the scores on a counterattack in the final minute. Deportivo Coruna also have seven points and are fifth after beating goal-shy Villarreal 2-0 on Saturday, and they are one ahead of Real Zaragoza, Atletico Madrid and Getafe.
Zaragoza beat 10-man Real Mallorca 2-0 at home while Argentine youngster Sergio Aguero scored and won a penalty for Atletico in their 4-1 away victory over Athletic Bilbao.
Marseille Keep Pace
With Bordeaux Win
In Marseille, France, Ligue 1 challengers Olympique Marseille kept pace at the top with a 2-1 home victory over archrivals Girondins Bordeaux on Sunday.
The Provence side grabbed the three points courtesy of goals by striker Mickael Pagis and defender Taye Taiwo. Bordeaux scored a consolation goal through striker Marouane Chamakh from the penalty spot.
Marseille, who are second in the standings with 16 points from six matches, are led by Olympique Lyon only because the five-times champions have scored more goals.
Lyon were never threatened when they clinched a 3-1 victory at promoted Lorient on Saturday, three days after beating Real Madrid in their Champions League opener.
At the Stade Velodrome, Pagis scored his fourth goal of the season four minutes into the second half with a fine lob over Bordeaux keeper Ulrich Rame.
Nigeria left back Taiwo doubled the tally seven minutes later when he netted a powerful free kick. Taiwo, however, was unlucky in the 64th minute when he was adjudged to have fouled Julien Faubert in the box.
