Barcelona 1 - Numancia 0

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Belletti, Puyol, Márquez, Gio Van Bronckhorst; Xavi, Deco; Giuly (Iniesta 46'), Larsson, Ronaldinho; Eto'o (Edmilson 60', Oleguer 64'). 4-2-3-1.
Numancia: Alvaro Nuñez; Pignol, Jaime Molina (Antonio 14'), Juanpa, Otxoa, Graff; Lee Chun Soo (Miguel Pérez 81'), Palacios, Ros (Tevenet 75'), Juan Carlos Moreno; Pineda. 5-4-1.

Team changes: Barcelona: Márquez, Giuly for Oleguer, Edmilson / Numancia: Velasco for Tevenet.

Goals: 1-0. 70. Larsson. Got above defence to head Xavi corner down into net.

Barcelona struggled to beat a battling Numancia, but eventually ran out 1-0 winners to move two points above Valencia at the top of the table. Frank Rijkaard found room for all of his attacking players, with Giuly, Deco, Larsson, Et'o and Ronaldinho all in the starting line up. But they were unable to break down a packed defence, and the first chances of the game fell to the visitors when Valdés saved from Moreno and Lee Chun Soo failed to connect with Pineda's cross when well placed in front of goal.

Gradually though Barça found spaces, with Deco, Ronaldinho and Larsson all shooting wide and Palacios lucky to get off scot free when the ball hit his hand in the area. Rijkaard was forced to make changes to balance his side, bringing on Iniesta at half time and Edmilson later in the second half, although the Brazilian midfielder was only on the pitch a couple of minutes before he was stretchered off in agony with a knee ligament problem, the third such serious injury in a couple of weeks.

Five minutes later though the Catalans finally made the break through, Larsson leaping above the defence to steer Xavi's corner down past Nuñez. After that the visitors had to come out, and Barcelona could have got one or two more, the keeper closing down Belletti after Larsson put him through and Ronaldinho and Deco both shooting across goal without finding the target. In the end though one goal was enough, and Barça have proved they can win even when not at their best. Numancia though can be proud of their performance, and after achieving a similar result against Real Madrid a couple of weeks ago they have proved that they have the mettle to stay up.