Real Sociedad 0 - Barcelona 2

Real Sociedad: Alberto; Kvarme, Loren, Luiz Alberto; López Rekarte (Alejandro 65'), Aranburu, Khokhlov, Idiakez (Barkero 75'), Aranzábal; De Paula (Gabilondo 55'), Demetradze. 3-5-2.
Barcelona: Bonano; Coco, Frank De Boer, Andersson, Sergi; Gabri, Xavi, Cocu; Geovanni (Gerard 60'), Luis Enrique (Jofre 89'); Kluivert (Saviola 80'). 4-3-2-1.

Team changes: Real: No change / Barcelona: Coco, Frank De Boer, Gabri, Luis Enrique for Puyol, Christanval, Rochemback, Saviola.

Goals:
0-1. 31. Kluivert. Headed down past Alberto after cross from Geovanni on left wing.
0-2. 75. Xavi. Free kick from outside of area into top corner of net.

Barcelona took over at the top of the table for twenty four hours at least after beating Real Sociedad 0-2 in the Anoeta stadium. The main talking point in the pre-match build up was whether Rexach would include Rivaldo in his squad, the Brazilian striker having returned from his home country raring to go after an intensive course of treatment following his injury in his last international match. However the Barcelona manager decided to leave him at home and save him for the midweek match against Mallorca as he felt he was not ready, much to the player's indignation. With Brazilian manager Scaloni insisting that he rejoins the squad on Monday for the midweek World Cup qualifier, there promises to be a tussle for his services in the next few days.

With Christanval and Rochemback joining a long injury list and Overmars out with a virus infection, Rexach was forced to line up with only five substitutes, including B team forward Jofre. There was still no place in the starting line up though for Saviola, who started on the bench. Even so the Catalans dominated in the first half and took the lead when Kluivert headed home Geovanni's cross on the half hour mark. John Toshack's team though were desperate for a win, and after the break they came out strongly, hitting the bar twice through Khokhlov and substitute Gabilondo, and seeing two penalty appeals turned down by referee Ramírez Domínguez when Andersson and then Frank De Boer handled in the area.

However Real Sociedad's captain Loren got himself sent off for a second bookable offence, and with ten minutes to go Xavi extended Barcelona's lead with a free kick into the top corner of the net. The young Spanish international almost repeated the act a couple of minutes later with another dead ball kick against the bar, and Alberto had to save well from a Gerard header as the game came to a close. Barcelona had won again in San Sebastian, and take a good cushion in to their next three matches against direct rivals Mallorca, Deportivo and Valencia. With many internationals away for the next few days they may need it. Real Sociedad stay at the bottom having only picked up one point in five games, and Toshack has some difficult decisions to make.