Samuel Eto'o played a hat trick to help FC Barcelona crush Almeria 5-0 yesterday in the Spanish Primera Liga soccer tournament.

Now Barcelona joined Valencia atop the standings with 19 points from its sixth consecutive Spanish league win. The Catalan club, unbeaten in 10 matches played since an opening-day defeat to Numancia, has also won all three of its Champions League games.

Eto'o opened the scoring five minutes into the games when the Cameroon striker volleyed defender Carlos Garcia's headed clearance past goalkeeper Diego Alves.

Henry made it 2-0 when he redirected Lionel Messi's hard pass into goal in the 13th after the France striker was left unmarked in the box.

In the 21st, Andres Iniesta threaded a pass through the area to free Xavi Hernandez and Eto'o for a clear break that Eto'o capped by rolling his second into an open goal. Three minutes later, Eto'o held off his marker to collect Messi's short pass from the goal line before raking his heel back across goal to score.

Almeria was reduced to 10 men in the 30th minute when striker Alvaro Negredo was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Rafael Marquez, and Daniel Alves scored with a long-range free kick seven minutes later.

Earlier yesterday, Mehmet Aurelio and Mariano Pavone scored to give Real Betis a 2-0 victory over winless Osasuna.