Barça stun sorry Sevilla

By Andy Hall

An explosive start to the second half enabled FC Barcelona to romp to a 4-0 win at high-flying Sevilla FC and go ten points clear at the top of the Primera División while Club Atlético de Madrid cantered to a 3-1 victory over Albacete Balompié.

Fast and furious
Barça stated their intent in the first half, with home goalkeeper Esteban Suárez turning a low Samuel Eto'o shot wide and blocking Ronaldinho's header. Moments later, the Brazilian playmaker had an effort cleared off the line. Sevilla looked dangerous too - Adriano Correia going close with a delicate lob before Sevilla's hopes of a penalty, when Juliano Belletti appeared to handle, were denied. Ronaldinho brought the half to a close with a spectacular bicycle-kick.

Flood of goals
Within 12 minutes of the restart, Barça had raced to a 3-0 lead. Eto'o shimmied past Estaban before rolling the ball over the line. Julio Baptista was unlucky to deflect a centre into his own net seven minutes later, then Ronaldinho was on hand to tuck in the third from close range. Ludovic Giuly rifled in to finish the scoring.

Atlético rise
In the capital, Atlético settled their meeting with Albacete in the first half - despite going behind to a stunning Francisco Rodríguez strike on ten minutes, the player taking the ball from his own area before lobbing Leo Franco from 30 metres. Atlético were soon level when Fernando Torres fired in a penalty. Ariel Ibagaza put them in front on 28 minutes then Pablo Ibáñez wrapped things up with a header. Atlético climb into ninth place with 29 points while Albacete stay in 17th.