Five Star Barcelona Crush Deportivo La Coruña and Record.

Barcelona finished the first half of their league programme in superlative style on Saturday, thrashing hapless Deportivo Coruna 5-0 at home, with two goals apiece from Thierry Henry and Samuel Eto'o.

Their seventh successive win means that Barca reach the halfway mark on 50 points, a new record in La Liga.

They have also created a new record for goals scored at this stage, having put away 59. Josep Guardiola's team are keen to break Real Madrid's record of 107 goals in the 1989/90 season.

'We are really enjoying ourselves this season,' said Barca playmaker Xavi, 'and tonight's was another pleasant match.'

As usual, Guardiola's slick side had killed off the match by half-time, though they refused to ease up in the second half.

In the 21st minute Lionel Messi broke the deadlock with another of his memorable solo goals. The Argentine idol took the ball out on the left and sped past four defenders before scoring with a deft shot which went in off the post.

Six minutes later Thierry Henry made it 2-0 with a powerful header, on a clever centre from Daniel Alves.

Three minutes before half-time, with Deportivo desperate to get back in the dressing-room, keeper Daniel Aranzubia failed to hold a Seydou Keita header - and Samuel Eto'o tapped in his 17th goal.

Messi then proved that he was human by putting two clear headers wide.

Henry made it 4-0 in the 82nd minute after being set up by Xavi. Five minutes later Aranzubia was sent off for bringing down Carles Puyol - and Eto'o calmly put away the resultant penalty.