Ronaldinho's double propels Barca 3 points clear in La Liga

Feb 12, 2007, 8:49 GMT

Barcelona, Spain - Barcelona celebrated the return of young star, Lionel Messi, on Sunday by beating Racing Santander at home 2-0 with two goals from its experienced star - Ronaldinho.

Two second-half goals by the Brazilian were able to push the defending league and European champions three points clear at the top of the La Liga table, followed by Sevilla and Real Madrid.

In addition to the return of Messi, Barca got a boost on the injury front as star striker Samuel Eto'o was available after missing the past several months with a knee injury. Both Eto'o and Messi started the contest on the bench.

Ronaldinho, who missed last weekend's 0-0 contest at Osasuna with an ankle injury, started up top on the left side while Javier Saviola centered and Andres Iniesta played on the right in the champions' three-forward formation. That alignment figures to change once Messi and Eto'o are worked back into the starting lineup.

Barcelona struggled to find its rhythm early in the contest, but still controlled the play through most of the first half. Racing was able to earn a penalty shot in the 24th minute, but goalkeeper Victor Valdes brilliantly saved Ezequiel Garay's spot kick.

After the save, Barca woke up and started pressuring the Racing area with more consistency.

The team carried that momentum into the second half and were finally able to break the deadlock about five minutes after the break when Ronaldinho scored his first goal of the game and 14th of the season in league play on a free kick.

The team doubled the lead about 15 minutes later when Ronaldinho headed home a a free kick by Anderson Deco.

A minute later the home crowd cheered the return of Messi. Eto'o also looked ready to enter the game as a substitute, but head coach Frank Rijkaard was forced to use his substitution after an injury.

In other La Liga action on Sunday, Getafe blanked Valencia 3-0, Deportivo La Coru and Espanyol shutout Villarreal and Celta Vigo 2-0, respectively, Osasuna beat last-placed Gimnastic de Tarragona 3-2, Levante and Mallorca outlasted Recreativo and Real Zaragoza 2-1 and Atletico Madrid topped Athletic Bilbao 1-0.

© 2007 The Sports Network