Shorn of the rested Ronaldinho and the convalescent Leo Messi Barca were not at their best but they didn't need to be as Villarreal rested their key playmakers Juan Roman Riquelme and Juan Pablo Sorin.

Both clubs had an eye on next week's Champions League semifinals, with Barca up against old rivals AC Milan and Villarreal, playing in the tournament for the first time, meeting Arsenal.

Eto'o bagged his 24th goal of the season after just ten minutes to relieve the tension at the Nou Camp, a firm and low strike from the edge of the box and the solitary goal by the Cameroon marksman proved enough.

The win moved Barca, the reigning champions, onto 73 points from 33 games and with only five matches remaining they are all but assured of a second consecutive coronation.

Valencia, who meet Spanish Cup winners Espanyol on Sunday, and Real Madrid, who visit near neighbours Getafe the same day, have 59 points from 32 games and wins for both will just about keep them in the hunt, but the race is now all essentially over bar the shouting.

Villarreal, fighting to snatch a UEFA Cup place should they fail to lift the Champions League at the first time of asking, probed diligently but rarely threatened to give their hosts a fit of nerves.

On the minus side for Barca, they lost Swedish veteran international forward Henrik Larsson with what appeared to be a thigh strain after just eight minutes, Santiago Ezquerro taking his place only to limp off 25 minutes later with a knee problem.