(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-02-25 11:23

MADRID - A Samuel Eto'o hat-trick helped Barcelona put the pressure on leaders Real Madrid in a 5-1 home win over bottom club Levante in the Primera Liga on Sunday.

Barcelona's Samuel Eto'o celebrates his second goal against Levante during their Spanish First Division soccer league match at Nou Camp stadium in Barcelona, February 24, 2008. [Agencies]

Frank Rijkaard's side closed to within two points of Real, who were playing Getafe at the Bernabeu in the late game, with Cameroon's Eto'o and Argentina's Lionel Messi, who scored one and set up two, in irresistible form.

Levante had caused murmurs of unrest at the Nou Camp when they cancelled out Xavi's opener from the penalty spot just before the break, but they offered little as Barca upped the tempo in the second half.

Earlier, Villarreal came from behind to beat Athletic Bilbao 2-1 away to strengthen their hold on third place with 46 points.

Bilbao, who had only lost twice at Sam Mames in the league, took an early lead but second-half goals from Mexico striker Guillermo Franco and Spain full back Joan Capdevila sealed the points for Manuel Pellegrini's side.

Stuttering Atletico Madrid continue to hang on to fourth with 41 points despite losing 3-1 at Osasuna, and they are now just two ahead of a resurgent Sevilla who cracked five past Real Zaragoza on Saturday.

Espanyol slipped to their sixth defeat in seven when they went down 2-0 at Deportivo Coruna and are level on 39 points with Sevilla in sixth.