Málaga 0 - Barcelona 4

Málaga: Arnau; Gerardo, César Navas, Fernando Sanz, Valcarce (Tote 72'); Juanito (Amoroso 51'), Romero (Manu 66'); Juan Rodríguez, Miguel Angel, Duda; Fernando Baiano. 4-2-3-1.
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Belletti, Oleguer, Puyol, Van Bronckhorst; Iniesta (Sylvinho 69'), Xavi (Gerard 74'), Deco; Giuly, Eto'o (Motta 59'), Ronaldinho. 4-3-3.

Team changes: Málaga: Miguel Angel for Alexis / Barcelona: Puyol, Eto'o for Márquez, Maxi López.

Goals:
0-1. 21. Oleguer. Picked up loose ball following corner and shot low into net.
0-2. 33. Giuly. Header down past Arnau from Ronaldinho's floated cross.
0-3. 67. Giuly. Ran on to Xavi through ball and shot low through keeper's legs.
0-4. 89. Gerard. Powered header wide of Arnau from Van Bronckhorst cross.

Barcelona held on to their six point lead over Real Madrid after beating Málaga 0-4 on Sunday evening. Frank Rijkaard's side were obliged to win after their rival's victory the day before, and at the player's insistence the coach decided to line up with his star striker Eto'o in the side despite advice from the club doctors to the contrary.

The early chances fell to the Andalusians, Romero and Baiano putting efforts wide, but the visitors took the lead when Oleguer beat Arnau following a corner, the young defender's first goal for his club. Valdés was in action at the other end though to keep out Baiano before Giuly headed Ronaldinho's cross past the keeper for his team's second.

The home side had a penalty appeal turned down close to half time when Valdés dropped a high cross as he collided with the post, the keeper tumbling in to Juan Rodríguez and preventing him from reaching the ball as it bounced in front of goal. But the Catalans were on top by then, and after a period of pressure after the break Xavi found Giuly with a clever through ball for him to score a third goal under the legs of Arnau.

Málaga's frustration was evident, and they were left with ten men after Amoroso was sent off for a foul on Puyol. Juan Rodríguez limped off a few minutes later with all three substitutions already made, and Gerard took advantage to head home Gio's cross in the last minute. Last season Barça lost 5-1 in the Rosaleda stadium, a result which almost cost Rijkaard his job. This year they made no mistake.