Madrid: Samuel Eto’ gave leaders Barcelona a 1-0 win at Real Valladolid and Gonzalo Higuain kept Real Madrid in touch in second place as the champions beat Malaga 1-0 away in the Primera Liga on Saturday. Barca have 72 points with nine games left to play, and remain six ahead of Real.

After an aggressive start from Valladolid, Cameroon striker Eto’ played a slick one-two with Xavi and lobbed the goalkeeper for his 26th league goal of the season just before the break.

Coach Pep Guardiola only used Lionel Messi and Daniel Alves as substitutes with one eye on next week’s Champions League quarter final at home to Bayern Munich.

Malaga put Real under pressure in similar fashion in the late game but a burst from midfield by Argentine striker Higuain saw him score the only goal just after the restart.

Sevilla are third with 57 points after a first half Frederic Kanoute penalty earned a 1-0 win at Recreativo Huelva.

Fourth-placed Villarreal could not cope with Almeria striker Alvaro Negredo as he inspired his side to a 3-0 home win. The former Real Madrid youth team player netted his 17th of the league campaign after seven minutes and set up Pablo Piatti and Mane for two more before halftime.

He hit the post after the restart just before Villarreal were reduced to 10 men when Robert Pires collected his second yellow card on the hour.

In the 65th minute, after using all their substitutes, the visitors also lost Santi Cazorla to a serious leg injury that has put the Spain winger out for the rest of the season.