Zaragoza 0 - Barcelona 2

Zaragoza: César; Ponzio, Alvaro, Gabriel Milito, Toledo (Cuartero 84'); Zapater (Savio 86'), Celades; Cani, Ewerthon, Oscar González (Generelo 84'); Diego Milito. 4-2-3-1.
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Belletti, Márquez, Puyol, Sylvinho; Deco, Edmilson, Motta (Van Bommel 55'); Messi (Larsson 70'), Eto'o, Ronaldinho (Iniesta 87'). 4-3-3.

Team changes: Zaragoza: Zapater, Celades for Movilla, Generelo / Barça: Márquez, Motta, Messi for Oleguer, Iniesta, Larsson.

Goals:
0-1. 79. Ronaldinho (penalty). After Celades saved Edmilson shot with hands.
0-2. 82. Larsson. Turned ball past César after Eto'o crossed in from right wing.

Barcelona escaped from Zaragoza with the points despite a below par performance in La Romareda. The match exploded into life in the last quarter and not for the best of reasons. Samuel Eto'o was on the verge of walking out of the game due to repeated racist taunts from the crowd. Both the referee and other players persuaded him to stay on the pitch. But Spanish football faces a critical situation with regard to racism when a world class professional is prepared to take the extreme measure of walking off in the middle of a game.

Barcelona took the lead just after the incident. Edmilson's shot was 'saved' on the line by Celades and the referee had no option but to give the Zaragoza midfielder his marching orders. Ronaldinho slotted away the penalty, putting the Catalans ahead with what was, incredibly, their first shot on target. Two minutes later Barça were on target again. Eto'o crossed for substitute Larsson to tuck the ball past César.

The first half was so dull that Frank Rijkaard appeared to be reading a magazine in the dugout. Messi had played an early one two with Deco before shooting into the side netting and Valdés had to push a long range strike from Ewerthon over his crossbar. Five minutes from the break Cani threatened to waltz his way through the Barcelona defence but he eventually mesmerised himself and left the ball behind. Ten minutes after the break Valdés was forced to save from Milito but the flag had gone up anyway.

Ronaldinho limped out of the action late on. Barcelona will hope to have him available for the homes games against Deportivo and Chelsea, which will hopefully be remembered for the right reasons.