Málaga 1 - Barcelona 1

Málaga: Contreras; Rojas, Litos (Iznata 88'), Fernando Sanz, Roteta; Gerardo (Zárate 67'), Miguel Angel, Romero, Musampa; Darío Silva, Dely Valdés. 4-4-2.
Barcelona: Bonano; Puyol, Christanval, Frank De Boer, Coco; Luis Enrique (Gabri 50'), Xavi, Cocu; Saviola (Geovanni 66'), Rivaldo; Kluivert (Gerard 80'). 4-3-2-1.

Team changes: Málaga: Romero for Zárate / Barcelona: Christanval, Rivaldo for Gabri, Geovanni.

Goals:
1-0. 75. Darío Silva. Volleyed wide of Bonano after Dely Valdes passed back.
1-1. 77. Rivaldo. Lifted ball over keeper from wide angle on left of area.

Barcelona faltered once again despite lining up with their 'trident' of Saviola, Kluivert and Rivaldo for the first time in the league. The Catalans could only draw with a Málaga side who had the better of the 90 minutes, and who were unlucky not to take the lead in the first half when Musampa fired a shot against the bar and Gerardo missed on the follow up. Barcelona did have their chances too though, with Luis Enrique shooting just wide in the first half and Xavi and Gabri wasting good chances after the break.

Darío Silva gave the home side the lead with fifteen minutes to go after a throw in from the right, the Uruguayan taking a return pass from strike partner Dely Valdes to volley past Bonano. It only took Barcelona two minutes to draw level though, Rivaldo running on to a headed pass from Kluivert to lift the ball over Contreras and in to the net. Peiró settled for a point, bringing on Iznata to stop substitute Geovanni down the right wing, but De Boer almost snatched a win for the visitors with a late free kick. Barcelona have only picked up two points now from their last three matches and are four points behind leaders Depor.