FCBARCELONA.CAT

21.05.2007 18:05

Goals from all three

Miriam Nadal

Ronaldinho, Eto'o and Messi all scored at the Calderón. With Messi and Eto'o having been injured for most of the season, this was the first time this has happened this year.

The Ronnie-Eto'o-Messi trident in attack was one of the keys to the historic rout at the Vicente Calderón. Messi, Eto'o and Ronnie all scored at a ground where Barça have traditionally struggled.

Three of a kind

The last time all three scored in the same game was at the Camp Nou against Racing Santander on November 27. 2005. They scored one each in a four-goal victory, with Sylvinho adding the fourth in the 66th minute.

Injuries to Eto'o and Messi

When all three of these players find their form, Barça are a formidable team. But this has proved difficult this year, with the Argentinian and Cameroonian having missed the best part of the campaign through injury.

Samuel Eto'o scored in the first four games of the season, but then picked up a meniscus injury in his right knee in the Champions League at Werder Bremen, and did not play again until February 4 against Osasuna. Since then, Eto'o has scored seven goals.

Leo Messi injured the fifth metatarsal of his left foot against Zaragoza on November 12, having scored three goals by that stage. He returned to action on February 11 at the Camp Nou at home to Racing, and like his African team-mate has scored seven goals since his comeback.

Ronnie is top scorer

Ronaldinho, meanwhile, has continued to bang the goals away with ease, and his tally of nineteen has him well on course to win the Pichichi title for being the top scorer in La Liga.

Eto'o and Messi have scored in the same game on four occasions this season, in the 2nd, 27th and 28th matches. Messi and Ronnie both scored against Atlético, and that was the first time they had doubled up since the 6th game of the season against Sevilla.
Ronaldinho and the Cameroonian had only scored in the same game once before Sunday, in game three against Racing Santander.