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Eto'o and Messi give Barca 'Clasico' win

  • Story Highlights
  • Barcelona go eight clear at top of Primera Liga after defeating Real Madrid 1-0
  • Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi scored the goals after Eto'o missed a penalty
  • In the other match, Valencia recovered from goal behind to beat Espanyol 2-1
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(CNN) -- Late goals from Samuel Eto'o and Lionel Messi helped Barcelona beat Real Madrid 2-0 in 'El Clasico' at a rain-soaked Nou Camp on Saturday to move 12 points clear of their rivals in the Primera Liga title race.

Samuel Eto'o scored the decisive goal as Barcelona beat rivals Real Madrid 2-0 at the Nou Camp.

Eto'o had seen Iker Casillas save his penalty on 70 minutes but picked himself up to break the deadlock seven minutes from time and Messi produced a delicate chip in stoppage time to seal the victory.

It was Barca's first win over Real since November 2005 and was sweet revenge for last season when Real did a league double and Barca had to perform the guard of honor to salute Real as champions at the Bernabeu before losing 4-1.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for new Real Madrid coach Juande Ramos and the former Tottenham manager has a mammoth task to help Real win a third consecutive title.

There was nothing to choose between the teams in a frantic first half and a draw looked the likely outcome when Eto'o's 70th minute penalty was saved by Iker Casillas after Michel Salgado had blocked Sergi Busquets.

However, Eto'o did not let the miss affect him and he scored the decisive opneing goal in the 83rd minute -- showing a real predator instinct to get a slight touch to prod the ball in after Carles Puyol had kept a corner alive. Messi then rubbed salt in their wounds with a 91st minute chip.

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Barcelona will face fellow-contenders Villarreal next weekend while Real entertain Valencia, knowing they cannot afford another defeat.

Meanwhile, Valencia got their title challenge back on track -- coming from behind to defeat 10-man Espanyol 2-1 at home as they moved up to second in the table eight points behind Barcelona.

Substitute Vicente, only on the pitch seven minutes, struck an 81st-minute winner for the hosts after Raul Albiol had cancelled out Roman Martinez's opener for the visitors.

Valencia old boy Francisco Rufete, who won two league titles as a Valencia player in 2002 and 2004, had a nightmare return to the Mestalla stadium getting his marching orders shortly before half-time for a deliberate handball.

Valencia had been crushed 4-0 by Barcelona last weekend so the win was much-needed and another boost was the return of Spanish international Daniel Silva after three months out following ankle surgery.

Espanyol stay third from bottom and have now not won in six matches with new manager Mane still waiting for his first win since taking charge last weekend.

Villarreal are nine points behind Barca in third and travel to fourth-placed Sevilla, just two points behind them, on Sunday.

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