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Eto`o scores 100th goal as Barcelona closes on title (22.03.2006)
MADRID, Spain (AP) -- Samuel Eto`o scored twice to pass the 100-goal plateau in his Spanish league career and FC Barcelona rallied to beat Getafe 3-1 on Tuesday, stretching its lead to 14 points.
Getafe defender Anibal Matellan added an own-goal at Camp Nou stadium to help Barcelona win its 21st in 29 league games, moving it closer to a second straight title and 18th overall.
Barcelona, which has nine games to play, has 67 points. Real Madrid has 53, one more than Valencia and Osasuna.
On Wednesday, Madrid visits Zaragoza in its 29th-round match, Valencia entertains Villarreal and Osasuna hosts Real Sociedad. Also, it`s Mallorca vs. Cadiz, Alaves vs. Celta Vigo, Athletic Bilbao vs. Espanyol, Deportivo La Coruna vs. Malaga, and Real Betis vs. Racing Santander.
On Thursday, Atletico Madrid hosts Sevilla.
Barcelona played without injured Lionel Messi, Rafael Marquez and Edmilson and fell behind in the fifth minute when Getafe forward Nano Macedo ran in to head home Mario Cotelo`s cross from the right. Nano, like Getafe coach Bernd Schuster,
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previously played for Barcelona.
Matellan equalized 17 minutes later by deflecting a header by Ludovic Giuly from a floated cross by Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
Getafe goalkeeper Luis Garcia appeared to briefly lose consciousness soon afterward when he collided with Eto`o, although he continued after a stoppage of several minutes.
Garcia was unable to prevent Eto`o scoring his 100th Spanish league goal in the 52nd minute when the Cameroon striker completed a flowing counterattack, which also involved Deco, Mark van Bommel and Giuly.
Eto`o scored 54 times while with Mallorca before moving to Barcelona.
Ronaldinho, celebrating his 26th birthday, provided the service for another by Eto`o in the 68th minute, his 22nd of the season.
Barcelona captain Carles Puyol was replaced in the 84th minute of his 200th league appearance by Sergio "Rodri" Rodriguez, who made his league debut.
The match was watched by Benfica coach Ronaldo Koeman, whose side faces Barcelona in the European Champions League quarterfinals over the next two weeks.
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