MADRID (AFP) - Samuel Eto'o made a goal-scoring return as Barcelona put daylight between themselves and their Spanish title rivals by thrashing Athletic Bilbao 3-0.

The reigning Spanish champions got all their goals in the first half before easing off, which saved the hapless Basque side from further humiliation, and now have a two-point lead over Sevilla at the top of the Spanish first division.

A bizarre own goal by Fernando Armorebieta, the Athletic defender kicking a Ludovic Giuly cross twice en-route to putting the ball in his own net after 22 minutes, was followed up by strikes from Xavi Hernandez and Eto'o.

Cameroon international striker Eto'o, last season's top scorer in the Spanish first division, was starting his first game for five months after a sustaining a serious knee injury in the Champions League against Werder Bremen in September.

In the second half, Barca toyed with Athletic but did not add to their tally although Ronaldinho hit the crossbar twice.

The result will give Barca coach Frank Rijkaard some respite after a week of criticism in the wake of losses to Valencia and Liverpool.

However, he may not have much time to breathe easily as Barca have to travel to Sevilla next Saturday for a top of the table clash for supremacy in Spain.

By contrast, Athletic slip back into the relegation zone and are now third from bottom.

Sevilla, including the Spanish first division's leading scorer Fredi Kanoute, couldn't break down the solid defence of Getafe who have only conceded three goals at home this season and were held to a 0-0 draw to stay second.

"A draw is fair. Both sides tried to win but couldn't. Goals decide games but nobody got any here and you have to accept that," said Sevilla coach Juande Ramos.

There were few chances for either side, perhaps the best falling to Getafe midfielder Francisco Sousa whose shot after 15 minutes required an outstanding save from Sevilla goalkeeper Andres Palop.

At the other end it was Luis Garcia, Getafe's first choice last season but playing his first game in this campaign, rather than the suspended 'Pato' Abbondanzieri who was wearing the gloves for the hosts.

"He (Garcia) stopped some important shots at the start of the game and that put his in the right frame of mind for the rest of the game," said Getafe coach Bernd Schuster.

Valencia stay in third on goal difference from Real Madrid, but still four points adrift of Sevilla, after being held to a shock 1-1 draw at bottom club Gimnastic Tarragona.

Gimnastic's Ruben Castro equalised with a header two minutes into injury time to deservedly grab a point for Tarragona, although they remain on the foot of the table.

The 2002 and 2004 Spanish champions were surprisingly muted in the wake of their Champions League exploits in the 2-2 draw at Inter Milan on Wednesday.

Joaquin Sanchez put Valencia ahead after 62 minutes picking up the rebound after Gimnastic keeper Albano Bizarri could only bat away a shot from Fernando Morientes.

Celta Vigo threw away a two-goal lead but still edged out of the relegation zone after a 2-2 draw with Racing Santander.

The Galician hosts went in front after 27 minutes from a Fernando Baiano penalty, after Racing's Gonzalo Colsa had brought down Borja Oubina.

New French signing Habib Bamogo added Celta's second eight minutes later but Celta then moved onto the defensive, often with five men or more at the back, but the tactic backfired.

Racing's Pedro Munitis reduced the deficit just before the hour and then Christian Alvarez equalised from the penalty spot 11 minutes from time after Celta's Brazilian midfielder Iriney had brought down Juanjo Exposito.

"The truth is things didn't go well when we tried to shut the game down when we were ahead. We committed too many errors," admitted Celta coach Fernando Vasquez.

New boy Gonzalo Higuain scored his first goal for Real Madrid to earn a point in a 1-1 draw against local rivals Atletico Madrid on Saturday after Fernando Torres had put the hosts ahead after just 11 minutes.

Real ended the game with 10 men after World Player of the Year Fabio Cannavaro received his second yellow card seven minutes from time.