Barcelona 4 - Las Palmas 1

Barcelona: Reina; Gabri, Reiziger (Puyol 46'), Frank De Boer, Sergi; Cocu, Xavi; Luis Enrique (Guardiola 63'), Rivaldo, Overmars; Kluivert (Dani 73'). 4-2-3-1.
Las Palmas: Nacho González; Edu Alonso (Moreno 54'), Alvaro, Olías, Schurrer, Angel; Jorge, Samways, Josico; Guayre (Eloy 78'), Oulare (Turdó 46'). 5-3-2.

Team changes: Barcelona: Reiziger, Sergi, Xavi for Abelardo, Petit, Guardiola / Las Palmas: Schurrer, Oulare for Paqui, Turdó.

Goals:
0-1. 08. Guayre. Lobbed over Reina after beating Sergi and Cocu.
1-1. 15. Gabri. Soft header after Xavi's corner which keeper turned into own net.
2-1. 43. Overmars. First time volley after Alvaro headed back Luis Enrique cross.
3-1. 72. Rivaldo. Controlled long pass from Frank De Boer and beat keeper.
4-1. 75. Dani. Shot into roof of net after Overmars crossed low across goalmouth.

Barcelona moved up level with third placed Valencia after an easy victory against Las Palmas. It was a much needed win for a Barcelona side who had drawn their last three matches to fall further behind leaders Real Madrid, and restored some confidence just in time for Thursday night's UEFA cup semi-final tie with Liverpool. Serra Ferrer decided to rest Guardiola for that match, the club captain being joined on the bench by two players who were returning from long term injuries, Puyol and De la Peña. Their return was quite timely in fact, with Abelardo and Gerard both undergoing operations which will keep them out to the end of the season, and Reiziger came in to the heart of defence in place of the veteran centre back.

Las Palmas were looking for a result after four away defeats in a row, and Schurrer came back from suspension conveniently to replace Paqui who was sitting out his one match ban. Oulare returned up front, back in favour after falling out with his club over amounts supposedly due to him. Within a few minutes it appeared that Sergio Kresic was on the way to keeping his undefeated record at the Camp Nou, having lead teams there three times without losing. Spanish under 21 international Guayre, who together with Jorge and Alvaro is being watched by Barcelona scouts, added a few million Pesetas to his value with an individualist goal, floating past Cocu and Segi with ease before chipping a glorious shot back over the advancing Reina from the edge of the area.

Barcelona came back quickly though thanks to a mistake by the usually reliable Nacho González, the keeper getting in to a mix up with his own defender Angel and punching Gabri's long looping header in to his own net. Then Overmars gave the Blaugrana the lead before half time with a snap shot from the left side of the area. At half time Serra Ferrer brought on Puyol for the injured Reiziger, and Kresic replaced a disappointing Oulare with Turdó. During the week the papers had been full of the news that Riquelme would be coming to Barcelona next season and that Rivaldo would be leaving, and the Brazilian star was whistled at by some sections of the crowd at the start of the game. However he once again proved how important he is at the moment, controlling Frank De Boer's long pass with his first touch to drill the ball past González.

By now Guardiola was on the pitch, and Serra Ferrer felt comfortable enough to rest Kluivert and bring on Dani, who had not scored a goal all season to date. Las Palmas by then were a beaten team, and within two minutes Dani got his goal, Cocu playing a defence splitting through ball to Overmars who laid it across for the Catalan striker to find the roof of the net. It was enough, and the next fifteen minutes were spent trying to avoid injuries rather than add to their total. With Mallorca only drawing Barça move three points clear of them, for the time being keeping on to their Champions League spot for next season. Las Palmas are fairly comfortable situated in thirteenth, and probably didn't expect to get much from this one anyway. Next week it's Real Madrid at home. Heady stuff.