Barcelona tore apart Almeria 5-0 with another irresistible first-half display at the Nou Camp to go top of the Primera Liga on Saturday.

In their last home game, Atletico Madrid were hammered 6-1, with Barca's first five goals coming in the opening half hour.

This time round, Samuel Eto'o bagged a hat-trick and goals from Thierry Henry and Daniel Alves gave them a crushing 5-0 halftime lead against a side reduced to 10 men after 30 minutes.

Pep Guardiola's team made it nine consecutive wins in all competitions and moved to the top of the standings, ahead of Valencia on goal difference, with 19 points from eight games.

Valencia visit Recreativo Huelva on Sunday when fifth-placed champions Real Madrid, who have 16 points, host Athletic Bilbao.

Barca made their customary high-tempo start, scoring the opener after only five minutes when a poor header out of defence fell for Cameroon striker Eto'o to volley home.

Lionel Messi crossed low for Henry to tap in the second and Almeria were reeling when Andres Iniesta sent Xavi through the opposition's back four to square for Eto'o to score again.

Messi pulled the ball back from the touchline for Eto'o to complete his hat-trick with a backheel in the 24th minute, taking his tally for the season to nine.

It got worse for Almeria when frustration led their top scorer Alvaro Negredo to take out Rafael Marquez with a late tackle that saw him shown a straight red card, leaving his side down to 10 men for the last hour.

Brazilian fullback Alves powered a 30m freekick low to the right of Diego Alves for the fifth goal before the break.

Almeria stay sixth with 11 points from eight games.

Earlier, struggling Osasuna were left still seeking their first win this season after losing 2-0 at home to Real Betis.

Turkey midfielder Mehmet Aurelio gave Betis the lead with a freekick that flew through the wall just after the interval, and Argentine striker Mariano Pavone scrambled home the second after home keeper Ricardo Lopez spilled a freekick at the end.

(Agencies via Shanghai Daily October 27, 2008)