Barcelona 2 - Betis 1

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Gabri (Reiziger 74'), Puyol, Cocu, Van Bronckhorst; Xavi, Márquez; Quaresma, Ronaldinho (Kluivert 19'), Luis García (Overmars 70'); Saviola. 4-2-3-1.
Betis: Contreras; Juanito, Lembo, Rivas, Luis Fernández; Ito, Marcos Assunçao; Ismael, Fernando (Capi 75'), Denilson (Benjamín 85'); Dani (Cañas 68'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Barça: Márquez for Motta / Betis: Rivas, Ismael, Dani for Tais, Joaquín, Tote.

Goals:
1-0. 42. Kluivert. Poked ball in after Contreras let Luis García cross through legs.
1-1. 52. Fernando. Took advantage of hesitation in defence to nip in and score.
2-1. 82. Márquez. Near post header down past Contreras from left sided corner.

Barcelona moved up to the fourth Champions League spot after a 2-1 victory over Betis. Rijkaard put out a side very similar to the line up he used against Panionios midweek, with Kluivert once again left on the bench and Márquez playing in defensive midfield in place of the suspended Motta. With less than twenty minutes gone though he had to bring on the Dutch striker when Ronaldinho limped off with a hamstring injury which could keep him out for a month or so.

Except for an early header from young Betis striker Dani and a couple of efforts from Quaresma, neither side particularly troubled the opposing keeper. But just before the half time whistle a mistake by Contreras let in Barça for the softest of goals, the visiting keeper letting a deflected cross from Luis García through his legs, allowing Kluivert to poke the ball into the net from less than a yard out.

Despite missing the inspiration of Joaquín, who was suffering from stomach pains, Betis levelled the scores soon after the break when Cocu and Puyol left the ball to each other, Fernando nipping in and taking it round Víctor and in to the net. Kluivert almost scored again though minutes later when he shot just wide of the post, and the Catalans looked favourites to win after their opponents were reduced to ten men when Ito picked up a second booking. But Víctor Fernández closed ranks and took off Dani to strengthen midfield, and for a while it looked as if they could save a point.

With eight minutes to go however, Márquez got on the end of Xavi's corner to head past a committed Contreras, and the three points were in the bag. Barça had proved they could win without Ronaldinho, and Betis dropped further down the table to end the day in thirteenth spot.