The Spanish Supercup is played over two legs just before the start of the regular season between the league champions and the cup winners, who last season were Barcelona and Betis respectively. (01.07.05)

Betis 0 - Barcelona 3

Betis: Doblas; Melli, Juanito, Rivas, Luis Fernández; Marcos Assunçao (Xisco 46'), Miguel Angel (Arzu 81'); Joaquín, Rivera, Edu; Oliveira (Fernando 81'). 4-2-3-1.
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Belletti, Puyol, Oleguer, Sylvinho; Xavi, Edmilson (Gabri 85'), Deco (Iniesta 81'); Giuly (Van Bommel 70'), Eto'o, Ronaldinho. 4-3-3.

Goals:
0-1. 47. Giuly. Ran on to Ronaldinho pass and placed shot under legs of Doblas.
0-2. 51. Eto'o. Picked up through ball from Xavi and rounded keeper to score.
0-3. 63. Ronaldinho. Fired dipping free kick over wall and into top corner of net.

Barcelona virtually tied up their first official title of the season after taking a three goal lead against Betis in the first leg of the Spanish Supercup. The Catalans had the better of the first half but couldn't break through the defensive net, although Doblas had to tip a dangerous effort from Xavi away for a corner and the Spanish international midfielder also hit the bar on the stroke of half time. The best chances for the locals came from a couple of early Marcos Assunçao free kicks and a jinking run from Joaquín which ended with a shot just wide of target.

Two minutes after the restart though Barça were in the lead, Giuly beating the offside trap to run on to Ronaldinho's through ball and poke a shot through the legs of the keeper. Valdés made an spectacular save from an equally spectacular Oliveira header minutes later, but almost immediately play went up the other end and Xavi set up Eto'o for him to make it two. And Ronaldinho wrapped things up with a dipping free kick which Doblas misread later in the second half. The return leg is in the Nou Camp next Saturday, although Betis need a small miracle to be able to turn this one around.

Barcelona 1 - Betis 2

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Belletti (Márquez 46'), Puyol, Oleguer, Sylvinho; Xavi, Edmilson, Deco (Gabri 81'); Giuly (Larsson 85'), Eto'o, Ronaldinho. 4-3-3.
Betis: Contreras; Oscar López (Lembo 81'), Melli, Nano, Castellini; Miguel Angel, Arzu (Rivera 73'); Varela (Israel 69'), Fernando, Xisco; Dani. 4-2-3-1.

Goals:
1-0. 15. Eto'o. Won ball off Melli and ran on to shoot low past Contreras.
1-1. 24. Dani. Got on the end of Xisco cross to volley ball in on far post.
1-2. 29. Dani. Picked up loose ball on left of goal and rounded Sylvinho to score.

Barcelona won the Spanish Supercup, although not as easily as they might have expected after a depleted Betis side gave them a good run for their money. Three goals behind from the first leg, and with a vital Champions' League qualifier to come at Monaco next Tuesday, Serra Ferrer decided to leave all his big names at home and put out a side packed with his second string players. But they still created chances early on through Xisco and Dani before the hosts got a grip, Deco going close with a header just wide of Contreras's post. A couple of minutes later though Eto'o won the ball off a hesitant Melli and ran on to open the scoring, and when Giuly burst through soon afterwards only to be ruled offside it looked as if it was going to repeat of the game a week ago.

Nothing could have been further from the truth though, as ten minutes later the visitors were level, Dani getting on the end of Xisco's cross to volley past Valdés with the Barcelona defence still protesting a possible foul on Ronaldinho. And five minutes after that Dani gave them the lead with his second of the night, collecting the ball on the far post after Oleguer mis-kicked another cross from the left and rounding Sylvinho to score.

The goals silenced the Nou Camp, but the hosts could have been level at half time when Eto'o was tripped in the area, referee Undiano Mallenco waving play on and Ronaldinho having a subsequent shot blocked by the defence. Rijkaard decided to do something about the dangerous left flank at the break, Márquez coming on for Belletti and Oleguer moving out to right back. But Valdés was never really troubled after that as the Catalans played safe and shut up shop.

Contreras still had to make a couple of important saves from Ronaldinho and Eto'o, and Undiano turned down two more penalty claims in the Betis area for possible hand ball. But Barcelona had done enough to tie up their sixth Supercup title, their first since 1996 when Bobby Robson was in charge at the Nou Camp, Mourinho was his young assistant and Ronaldo got the goals which gave them the trophy. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then!