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Wednesday's Champions League match reports
(Reuters)
Updated: 2005-11-03 08:43
Irresistible Barca hit five past Panathinaikos
BARCELONA, Nov 2 (Reuters) - Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o scored a stunning
hat-trick in a 5-0 demolition of Panathinaikos as the Catalans marched into the
last 16 of the Champions League on Wednesday.
The Greeks were torn apart as Barca raced into a 4-0 lead in a whirlwind
first half in the Group C match at the Nou Camp, Dutchman Mark van Bommel
scoring inside the first minute.
Eto'o grabbed the first of his three goals with a fine header, added the
finishing touch to a quicksilver passing move for his second and completed his
hat-trick with a delightful curling lob just after the hour.
Barcelona lead the group with 10 points from four matches while
Panathinaikos, Udinese and Werder Bremen are locked on four apiece.
Udinese and Bremen could finish level with Barca, but the Primera Liga side's
superior head-to-head record means they cannot finish lower than second place.
"The early goal certainly settled the team and the players went on to enjoy
themselves and so did the fans," Barca coach Frank Rijkaard said.
"Everything stems from having the right mentality and when you play well and
get good results then you become more confident."
Rijkaard's side got off to a dream start when midfielder van Bommel put them
ahead with just 40 seconds on the clock.
The Dutchman turned and raced on to a sharp through-pass from Iniesta, saw
keeper Mario Galinovic off his line and lofted the ball into the net.
Argentine youngster Lionel Messi almost added another three minutes later,
but this time Galinovic was able to deny him as he got a hand to his low shot.
The chances came thick and fast with Galinovic saving an Eto'o drive in the
next attack and Messi having a shot cleared off the line soon after.
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