Bruges 0 - Barcelona 2

Barcelona: Arnau (Dutruel 65'); Reiziger, Frank De Boer, Abelardo, Sergi; Xavi (Petit 57'), Cocu; Gerard, Rivaldo, Overmars (Simao 75'); Kluivert. 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
0-1. 24. Rivaldo. After cross from Overmars on left wing which defenders left alone.
0-2. 30. Kluivert. Strong header down past keeper after De Boer free kick.

A good victory by Barcelona against Belgium's most on form team Bruges saved Serra Ferrer's job and helped to restore some confidence in the team. Out of the Champions League and with two league defeats in a row in their last games, the manager decided to change his formation to four at the back and bring in Frank De Boer, Reiziger, Gerard and Overmars, with Puyol, Petit and Simao left on the bench and Luis Enrique suspended. Some reports said it was a 4-4-2, others a 4-2-3-1, and the Catalan press decided it was a 4-3-1-2. Whatever the case, no less than five Dutchmen were included, probably thinking that they would be especially motivated against their old rivals the Belgians. Bruges came in to the came with a frightening record in the Belgian league, having won 13 out of 13 games so far.

The Barcelona players came on to the pitch wearing black armbands in honour of Socialist politician Ernest Lluch, a fervent Barça supporter who was assassinated by the Basque terrorist group ETA earlier in the week. They started well, Kluivert shooting over the bar in the opening minutes, but then Bruges took over Mendoza hitting the outside of the post in a series of attacks. But a defensive mistake by Simons and Lembi, each leaving Overmars low cross for the other, let in Rivaldo to open the scoring. Kluivert added the second with a powerful header down past Nemec, and Overmars could have made it three before half time, but he shot weakly straight at the Slovenian keeper.

Bruges came forward in the second half, and with Arnau looking very shaky they were unlucky not to score when Mendoza's free kick hit the bar and went over. A clash between Arnau and Lembi left both sprawled out on the ground, and with Austrian referee Konrad Plautz allowing play to go on, Mendoza headed the ball against the bar again. A few minutes later the Barcelona keeper limped off to be replaced by Dutruel, and it later transpired that Arnau had damaged knee ligaments and will be out for two to three months. Both teams had chances late on, but with Frank De Boer in superb form, the home team attacks came to nothing. Rivaldo tried to surprise Nemec twice with speculative shots, but he tipped the first over the bar and the second went wide. In the end a good result for the Catalans, and they should cruise through comfortably to the last 16 of a competition they have never won.