Barcelona 2 - Sevilla 0

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Gabri, Márquez, Puyol (Oleguer 69'), Sylvinho; Xavi, Motta (Gerard 04'), Deco; Giuly (Iniesta 61'), Larsson, Eto'o. 4-3-3.
Sevilla: Esteban; Redondo, Javi Navarro, Pablo Ruíz, Sergio Ramos; Martí, Renato (Jesús Navas 52'); Daniel Alves (Jesuli 46'), Baptista, Fernando Sales; Aranda (Antoñito 64'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Barcelona: Gabri, Sylvinho for Belletti, Van Bronckhorst / Sevilla: Redondo, Sergio Ramos, Renato, Aranda for David, Casquero, Jesuli, Darío Silva.

Goals:
1-0. 35. Giuly. Took Xavi pass and hit shot which bounced in off Esteban's foot.
2-0. 76. Larsson. Ran on to meet Deco cross and force ball past Esteban.

Barcelona moved to the top of the table for the first time since the 2001/2 season after beating Sevilla 2-0 on a rainy night in the Nou Camp. Frank Rijkaard's side were once again without the injured Ronaldinho, who had returned from playing for Brazil with an aggravation to his ankle injury, and there was worse news for the manager when Motta was stretchered off in only the fourth minute with a ligament injury which may keep him out for several months. Márquez was the first to test Esteban with a long free kick, but the visiting keeper was unlucky a few minutes later when Giuly broke through and hit a low shot which ballooned back off Esteban's leg and bounced in to the net.

Shortly before the break Esteban saved well from a Larsson snap-shot, but he could do nothing after the restart when the Swedish striker shrugged off Redondo to force the ball in to the net, the referee waving away claims for a foul. Sevilla had no reply, and long shots from Jesuli and Navas didn't even trouble Valdés. And for the last ten minutes or so the Barça players were lining up to shoot, with Eto'o rounding the keeper only for his effort to strike Ramos in the stomach on the goal line and Esteban saving well from Iniesta and others. A good result for the Catalans to take to Glasgow for their opening Champions' League game. Sevilla will have to improve though if they are to make any impression in their return to Europe this season.