Udinese 0 - Barcelona 2

Udinese: De Sanctis, Zenoni (Tissone 38'), Juárez, Bertotto, Sensini, Candela; Obodo, Vidigal, Sulley Muntari (Mauri 65'); Iaquinta (Di Michele 75'), Di Natale. 5-3-2.
Barcelona: Jorquera; Belletti, Oleguer, Puyol, Van Bronckhorst; Gabri (Iniesta 75'), Edmilson, Deco; Giuly, Larsson, Ezquerro. 4-3-3.

Goals:
0-1. 85. Ezquerro. Turned ball back in to net after Larsson shot blocked.
0-2. 90. Iniesta. Connected with Ezquerro's square pass to shoot past keeper.

Barcelona made it ten wins out of ten in all competitions after beating Udinese 0-2 in their last group game. Frank Rijkaard's side were already assured of top spot, but their opponents needed a point to accompany them into the next round, and a draw appeared to be on the cards. Rijkaard himself was in bed with a fever, but his number two Ten Cate gave a run out to some of the lesser used players, leaving Eto'o and Ronaldinho back in the Condal city to rest knocks which they picked up at the weekend.

The first chance of the night fell to the Italians, Di Natale shooting wide across goal. A few minutes later though Giuly crashed a shot against the crossbar, and Deco almost beat keeper De Sanctis with a clever back-heel from Belletti's cross. And before the break Giuly cut in again from the right only to see his shot from a wide angle hit the outside of the post.

The hosts came out strongly after the restart, Puyol having to cut out a dangerous attack by Iaquinta. Belletti hit the side netting as Barça counter attacked, but substitute Di Michele should have done better when he allowed Jorquera to close him down after breaking free in front of goal.

It looked as if the bookies forecast of a draw was going to be spot until the visitors attacked again. Ezquerro and Larsson both had efforts cleared off the line, but the ball fell to Ezquerro who made no mistake at the second attempt. Udinese threw everything forward, but that left spaces at the back, and Ezquerro slotted the ball wide of De Sanctis on another breakaway for Iniesta to roll a shot into the empty net. Sixteen points out of a possible eighteen for the Blaugrana, and Udinese have to make do with the UEFA cup.