 Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o welcomes a tight title race |
Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o has said Real Madrid's impressive form will spur on his Barcelona side to retain the Spanish title. The Real Madrid side, which includes Mali midfielder Mahamadou Diarra, are now just two points behind Barcelona, who top La Liga with 33 points.
Despite this, Eto'o is confident Barcelona can maintain their winning ways in the five games remaining to secure their third consecutive league title.
"A great champion needs the teams chasing them to be strong," Eto'o said.
"The fact that Real are doing well will make us even stronger - others might prefer them to be nine points behind us, but not me. " the 26-year-old added.
"If we win this title, it will be valued even more because it was so close."
Eto'o has scored 10 goals so far for the Catalan side despite being injured for much of the season.
However, in the race to become La Liga's top goalscorer Mali's Fredi Kanoute is only one strike away from leading sharp-shooter Ruud van Nistelrooy of Real.
The Dutchman has scored 20 goals this term, one more than Kanoute's 19 for Sevilla.
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