Barcelona 3 - Real Murcia 0

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Reiziger (Oscar López 79'), Puyol, Cocu, Van Bronckhorst; Gerard (Márquez 69'), Motta (Xavi 46'); Quaresma, Ronaldinho, Luis García; Saviola. 4-2-3-1.
Real Murcia: Sánchez Broto; Juanma, Cuadrado, Pedro Largo, Carreras; Acciari, Jensen (Roberto Fresnedoso 81'), Michel (Clavero 31'); David Karanka, Richi, Luis García. 4-3-3.

Team changes: Barça: Reiziger for Gabri / Murcia: Sánchez Broto, Carreras, Jensen, Richi, David Karanka for Juanmi, Setvalls, Julio Alvarez, Roberto Fresnedoso, Fredi.

Goals:
1-0. 38. Saviola. Controlled pass from Ronaldinho and hit shot wide of keeper.
2-0. 56. Xavi. Ran on to Luis García cross to fire shot into net.
3-0. 65. Ronaldinho. Slid ball in from close up following Luis García cross.

Barcelona moved up above Betis to fifth with a 3-0 win over Real Murcia. Frank Rijkaard decided to put out a similar line up to the one which beat Mallorca at the weekend, missing only the suspended Gabri, which meant that Kluivert and Luis Enrique started on the bench. Joaquín Peiró put out an aggressive formation which included three forwards, with attacking midfielder Michel also in the side. Ex Celtic keeper Sánchez Broto reappeared in goal after Juanmi was struck down with gastric enteritis shortly before kick off.

Although Barça had most of the early play, the visitors held their own for the first half hour or so. An injury to Michel though left them without their best player, and a few minutes later the home side took the lead through Saviola after a good passing move between Gerard and Ronaldinho, step over from Quaresma included. Gerard could have increased the lead before the break when he headed past Sánchez Broto, and David Karanka had to clear Motta's effort off the line on the follow up.

By midway through the second half the Catalans had wrapped things up with two more goals, Luis García first setting up half-time substitute Xavi and then doing likewise for Ronaldinho. After that they sat back to consolidate their lead, happy to have finally recorded their first home win in the league this season. Murcia didn't really expect anything else as they have only managed one draw in almost 40 games in the Nou Camp, and with Albacete, Mallorca and Espanyol all winning they now find themselves in next to bottom spot. Peiró has some work to do.