UEFA.com works better on other browsers
For the best possible experience, we recommend using Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge.

Barça end the year on a high

A late Samuel Eto'o strike meant FC Barcelona ended the year with a 2-1 victory over UD Levante.

By Andy Hall

FC Barcelona consolidated their status as Primera División leaders by sealing a 2-1 victory against Levante UD on Tuesday night. Samuel Eto'o rifled in a superb late winner for the Catalans, who are winter champions in Spain with 42 points. Meanwhile, Real Betis Balompié clinched a 1-0 home win against Club Atlético de Madrid.

Goalkeeper's debut
At Camp Nou, Barcelona took the lead on 28 minutes when Deco's free-kick took a deflection off Alexis Suarez and beat a bewildered Juan Luis Mora. Levante pulled level on the hour when Felix Ettien released Jofre González, who slotted from a tight angle past Rubén Martínez, making his debut in the Barça goal.

Eto'o decider
But the night belonged to Eto'o who smashed a glorious winner four minutes from time - his 13th goal of the season. Barcelona now have 42 points, 12 more than second-placed RCD Espanyol, but for Levante the year ends on a gloomy note with no wins in six league matches - a run that has left them in 12th position with 21 points.

Joaquín winner
In Seville, Betis spent 83 minutes clinging to a 1-0 advantage as they climbed back into sixth place. Joaquín Sánchez drilled in a seventh-minute opener as Betis controlled the early stages. Atlético pressed for an equaliser in the second half and came close when Juanito Gutiérrez cleared off the line from Salva Ballesta.

Luccin unlucky
Pablo Ibañez then headed an Ariel Ibagaza centre against the post and even after Betis were reduced to ten men by Juanito's dismissal on 78 minutes, Atlético could still not find a way through and a last-gasp Peter Luccin effort bounced back off the Betis woodwork. The Primera División programme for 2004 concludes with the remaining eight fixtures of round 17 tomorrow.

Selected for you