Real Sociedad 0 - Barcelona 2

Real Sociedad: Alberto; López Rekarte, Labaka, Garitano, Garrido; Mikel Alonso, Viáfara; Stevanovic (Novo 78'), Nihat, Mark González (Uranga 68'); Skoubo (Xabi Prieto 46'). 4-2-3-1.
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Oleguer, Márquez (Iniesta 16'), Puyol, Van Bronckhorst; Van Bommel, Edmilson, Deco (Sylvinho 80'); Larsson (Giuly 70'), Eto'o, Ronaldinho. 4-3-3.

Team changes: Real: Viáfara for Jauregi / Barça: Oleguer, Van Bronckhorst, Van Bommel, Larsson for Belletti, Sylvinho, Motta, Giuly.

Goals:
0-1. 07. Larsson. Picked up Ronaldinho pass and rounded Labaka to score.
0-2. 50. Etoó. Following up after Van Bommel shot came back off post.

Barcelona moved twelve points clear at the top of the table pending Sunday's games after beating real Sociedad 0-2. Frank Rijkaard's side were never really in trouble after Larsson beat the offside trap to pick up a pass from Ronaldinho and score in the seventh minute, the Swedish striker's fifth goal in as many games. Marcos Alonso had tested Víctor Valdés though in the first minute, and the keeper had to be on his toes soon after the goal to save from Skoubo. And a few minutes later, a fierce drive from Mark González bounced off the post and hit Valdés on the back without him knowing too much about it.

Barça though were in command, and although they lost Márquez to an early injury, they carried on pushing forward. Van Bommel brought a good save out of Alberto and fired another effort over the top, and Eto'o had another effort blocked by the keeper after he got free of his marker following a quickly taken free kick. And five minutes in to the second half Eto'o made it two, poking the ball in to the empty net after Van Bommel's shot had come back off the foot of the post.

Real did not give up though, and Valdés had to tip a dangerous free kick from Mark González away for a corner. Nihat also had a couple of chances, the first incorrectly ruled offside after his shot had bounced over the bar, and the second a half-hit shot which Valdés collected without too many problems. Ronaldinho and Eto'o both curled shots wide of the far post at the other end, but Valdés had to make a couple of late saves from Xabi Prieto and Labaka to maintain his clean sheet.

There was another injury blow for the visitors when Edmilson limped off, waiting just long enough to pick up his fifth yellow card of the season, and it remains to be seen whether he and Márquez will be available for the next few games. But the Blaugrana had recovered after their defeat last week at Osasuna, and they look to be heading for another league title. Real though are still struggling, and the result leaves them once again just two points above the drop zone.