Barcelona 3 - Atlético Madrid 1

Barcelona: Jorquera; Reiziger (Oleguer 55'), Puyol, Márquez, Van Bronckhorst; Xavi, Davids, Cocu; Luis García (Overmars 92'), Saviola (Motta 71'), Ronaldinho. 4-3-3.
Atlético: Sergio Aragoneses; Contra, Gaspar, Lequi, Iván Romero (Arizmendi 75'); Novo (Jorge 61'), De los Santos (Musampa 80'), Ibagaza, Nano; Nikolaidis, Fernando Torres. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Barça: Jorquera for Víctor Valdés / Atlético: Contra, Iván Romero, De los Santos, Nano, Fernando Torres for Santi, Sergi, Simeone, Jorge, Musampa.

Goals:
1-0. 09. Saviola. Ran on to clearance by Reiziger to shoot past Aragoneses.
1-1. 21. Nikolaidis. Got ahead of marker to turn Nano's cross past Jorquera.
2-1. 24. Ronaldinho. Hooked ball over keeper after passing move with Cocu.
3-1. 43. Luis García. Ran in to head Saviola's cross past keeper on far post.

Barcelona consolidated fourth spot after beating their closest rivals Atlético Madrid 3-1. All the goals came in the first half, with Saviola starting things off in the ninth minute when he ran on to a long clearance by Reiziger to beat Aragoneses. Márquez headed a Van Bronckhorst free kick wide just afterwards, but Nikolaidis made it all square ten minutes later when he turned Nano's cross past young keeper Jorquera, who was standing in for the suspended Víctor Valdés.

Ronaldinho restored the lead though only three minutes after Atlético's goal, working a swift passing move with Cocu and finishing off scooping the ball over the head of the advancing keeper. Luis García made it three just before the break when he headed home Saviola's cross, and they could have scored more in the second half before Davids got himself sent off for a second booking, after which Rijkaard called it a day.