Barcelona 3 - Recreativo Huelva 0

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Belletti, Puyol, Márquez, Sylvinho; Xavi, Edmilson, Deco (Iniesta 68');Giuly, Gudjohnsen (Saviola 62'), Ronaldinho (Ezquerro 80'). 4-3-3.
Recreativo: Laquait; Edu Moya, Mario, Iago Bouzón, Dani Bautista; Viqueira (Barber 62'), Jesús Vázquez; Cazorla, Rosu (Javi Guerrero 64'), Aitor; Calle (Sinama-Pongolle 68'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Barça: Belletti, Márquez, Edmilson, Giuly for Zambrotta, Thuram, Iniesta, Messi / Recreativo: Iago Bouzón, Dani Bautista, Rosu, Calle for Beto, Poli, Javi Guerrero, Sinama-Pongolle.

Goals:
1-0. 28. Ronaldinho (penalty). After Mario tugged on Gudjohnssen's shirt in area.
2-0. 56. Ronaldinho. Far post header into empty net from Sylvinho's cross.
3-0. 59. Xavi. Got on end of Belletti's cross to steer header wide of keeper.

Barcelona moved two points clear at the top of the table after a comfortable 3-0 win over Recreativo. After defeats against Chelsea and Real Madrid, Frank Rijkaard had decided to put an end to his rotation system and field his best possible line up, but even so they could have gone behind in the first minute had Valdés not managed to keep out a dangerous header from Calle. After that though the keeper was hardly troubled, and the locals opened the scoring with just under half an hour on the clock after ex Barcelona defender Mario pulled on Gudjohnssen's shirt inside the area, Ronaldinho converting the resulting penalty.

Barça continued to attack, with Laquait blocking a long Márquez free kick and Gudjohnssen shooting wide from Xavi's cross before the break. Ten minutes in to the second half they went further ahead when Sylvinho curled in a quick cross which went over the top of the advancing keeper, allowing Ronaldinho to head in to the empty net. And three minutes later Xavi lost his marker to head a third from Belletti's centre and wrap things up.

Ronaldinho could have completed his hat-trick had the keeper not saved his free kick a few minutes later, but Rijkaard already had one eye on Tuesday night's big game, and took him off to give a first run out in the league this season to Santi Ezquerro. Belletti had to clear a header from substitute Barber, but Laquait was in action again to keep out Giuly in the dying minutes. It was just the game that Barça needed though after their recent failings, and they are now ready for the visit of Chelsea.