Samuel Eto'o struck four first-half goals as Barcelona thrashed Real Valladolid 6-0 at the Nou Camp on Saturday night.
The Cameroon striker was left on the bench for Tuesday night's Champions League draw at home to Basle, but was restored to the starting line-up for this match by coach Pep Guardiola and fired a brilliant quadruple in the first half to set Barcelona on their way to an eighth successive Primera Liga victory.
Eto'o opened the scoring after 12 minutes, adding a second on the half-hour mark and completing his hat-trick in the lead-up to half-time.
The African striker then added a fourth goal a minute before the interval to round off a superb first half for the Catalan side.
That strike also saw Eto'o match the feat achieved earlier in the day by Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain, who bagged all four goals in Real Madrid's 4-3 win over Malaga at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Eidur Gudjohnsen and Thierry Henry also netted late on to complete a fantastic win for Guardiola's side.
Barcelona were without Andres Iniesta in midfield, but the Spain star was barely missed as the Catalans got off to a flying start.
Lionel Messi had a goal ruled out for offside after 6 minutes and Gudjohnsen fired a header just over the bar shortly afterwards following good play by Xavi.
Messi then missed a couple of great chances in the next few minutes as Barcelona pressed for an early goal.
And it duly arrived after 12 minutes when Eto'o latched onto Dani Alves' pass in the area, evaded two defenders and poked the ball between Sergio Asenjo's legs to put Barcelona in front.
It was a classy finish by the Cameroonian and Barcelona deserved their lead.
Guardiola's side played with less intensity after the goal, but Eto'o bagged a second for his team on the half-hour mark.
The former Mallorca forward teed up Henry and was at hand to smash home the rebound after the Frenchman's volley had been saved by Asenjo.
Eto'o set up Henry again after 40 minutes, but this time the former Arsenal man screwed his shot wide and was jeered by the home fans.
But those jeers soon turned to cheers as Eto'o grabbed his hat-trick three minutes later.
The Cameroon striker this time ran onto Messi's pass, rounded Asenjo and rolled the ball into the empty net.
And just a minute later, three became four for Barcelona and Eto'o, who fired home with ease after Messi had charged forward from midfield and left the striker with a simple finish.
After the break, Victor Valdes did well to push away Jonathan Sesma's cross as Valladolid looked for a way back into the game.
But it was all Barcelona after that and Henry missed a good chance to extend the Catalans' lead after 53 minutes.
The Frenchman appealed for a penalty shortly afterwards, but his protests were waved away.
But it was all about Eto'o. The frontman was unable to add to his impressive tally, but did square unselfishly for the unmarked Gudjohnsen to make it five after 71 minutes.
The African was given a richly-deserved standing ovation by the Nou Camp when he departed with 15 minutes remaining.
But Barcelona wanted more and continued to pile forward in the closing stages.
Alves blasted a 40 yard free-kick just wide and Messi saw his goalbound effort well saved by Asenjo.
However, the Valladolid keeper could do nothing to stop Henry from sliding home from close range after Messi played an intelligent one-two with substitute Alexander Hleb with seven minutes remaining.
And there was still time for Messi to see a second goal disallowed in the final minutes.
The Argentina winger put in another virtuoso performance and was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet, but this game will be remembered for Eto'o's four goals, which take his league total to 13 for a season in which he had been expected to no longer be a Barcelona player.
Barca's win keeps them two points clear of bitter rivals Real Madrid, but Villarreal can draw to within a point of the Catalans if they beat Almeria on Sunday.
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