Madrid: Leaders Barcelona set a club record of 12 consecutive wins in all competitions with a 3-1 victory at Cadiz in the Primera Liga on Saturday.

The win, which broke the record of 11 games set in the 1955-6 season, put the champions three points clear with 37 from 16 matches.

Winger Ludovic Giuly set Barcelona on their way with a well-taken 31st-minute strike and Cameroon striker Samuel Eto’ scored from the penalty spot just before the break.

Eto’ grabbed his 15th goal of the season four minutes into the second half and Cadiz keeper Armando then produced some fine saves to prevent the score climbing higher.

Cadiz striker Nenad Mirosavljevic netted a deserved consolation goal in the final minute.

Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard said: “It was very difficult to play against Cadiz because they played at such a high tempo. But every part of the team continues to work well. We are organised and we were able to manage the ball well, so I want to congratulate my players for an important victory.”

Deportivo Coruna had earlier moved up to third on 29 points by humbling regional rivals Celta Vigo 3-0 away.

Celta had goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto sent off after only 24 minutes for bringing down Pedro Munitis in the area and Diego Tristan scored from the penalty.

Playmaker Juan Carlos Valeron skipped past three challenges to score a second goal after 42 minutes and three minutes later defender Joan Capdevila lashed a free kick home from 25 metres.

Diego Tristan also put a second half penalty wide.

Athletic Bilbao continued their revival under new coach and local icon Javier Clemente when they beat bottom club Real Betis 2-0.

Beating Betis means that Athletic, who themselves were at the foot of the first division six weeks ago when Clemente took over, have now gone four games without defeat to improve their chances of survival.

Athletic, along with Barcelona and Real Madrid, are the only clubs never to have been relegated from the top flight.

Perhaps missing the influence of Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho, who was ill, and the injured Xavi, Barca struggled against a fired up Cadiz early on.

But after 31 minutes Andres Iniesta set Giuly through on goal with a slide-rule pass and the Frenchman lifted the ball over the advancing Armando for the opening goal.

A minute before the interval Rafael Marquez won a penalty for the visitors when he dived over a sliding tackle from Cadiz defender Jose de la Cuesta in the area.

Eto’ was forced to take the penalty twice but sent Armando the wrong way second time around.

Soon after the restart Deco squared the ball across the area for Eto’ to shoot but Armando parried at full stretch.

(Agencies)