Barcelona 2 - Mallorca 0

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Belletti, Márquez, Puyol, Van Bronckhorst (Sylvinho 73'); Xavi (Iniesta 62'), Albertini, Deco; Giuly (Gerard 80'), Eto'o, Ronaldinho. 4-3-3.
Mallorca: Moya; Ballesteros, Iuliano, Ramís, Poli; De los Santos, Pereyra; Campano (Felipe Melo 60'), Arango, Tuni (Correa 65'); Luis García (Okubo 70'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Barcelona: Albertini for Oleguer / Mallorca: Ramís, Pereyra for David Cortés, Okubo.

Goals:
1-0. 27. Eto'o. Deflected shot from Deco past keeper.
2-0. 52. Deco. Shot from right of goal which crept in under Moyà.

Barcelona moved seven points clear at the top of the table a 2-0 win over Mallorca. Kicking off at the same time as their rivals Real Madrid, the Catalans were looking for a win to keep up their push for the title, and Eto'o (who had been presented with the trophy as Africa's footballer of the year before the kick off) brought a magnificent save out of under 21 international keeper Moyà in the opening minutes. But visiting manager Héctor Cúper had already won three times at the Nou Camp in the past, and with ten minutes gone his side had a chance to take the lead when they were awarded a penalty after referee Teixeira Vitienes ruled that Puyol had pushed over Luis García in the area. However Víctor Valdés guessed correctly, and dived to save Luis García's spot kick.

It was a vital miss, as five minutes later Barcelona took the lead when Deco fired in a shot which took a slight deflection off Eto'o, Teixeira awarding the goal to the Camerooni striker. After that the home side pushed forward, with chances falling to Xavi, Giuly, Deco and Eto'o, and Moyà in particular made another stunning save from Xavi before the break. However the visitors also had their chances, Arango going close a couple of times and De los Santos heading a corner against the bar on the stroke of half time.

Twelve minutes in to the second half the hosts made it two, Deco picking up a short corner from Xavi and rounding a defender before driving a shot under the body of the young keeper. Soon afterwards news came through that Athletic had scored a second goal against Madrid, and the fans started to celebrate. There was still time for Moyà to make another good save from Deco, and in the closing minutes Mallorca could have pulled one back when Valdés stopped a free kick from Correa and blocked the follow up from Okubo. But Frank Rijkaard's side had got the result they wanted, and go on to their Champions' League tie against Chelsea full of confidence.