Betis 1 - Barcelona 1

Betis: Doblas; Melli, Nano, Juanito, Fernando Vega; Arzu (Miguel Angel 70'), Marcos Assunçao; Sobis, Fernando, Capi (Rivera 57'); Robert (Dani 65'). 4-2-3-1.
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Oleguer, Márquez, Puyol, Van Bronckhorst; Iniesta, Motta, Deco; Giuly (Xavi 69'), Saviola (Gudjohnsen 62'), Ronaldinho. 4-3-3.

Team changes: Betis: Melli, Nano, Fernando for Miguel Angel, Vogel, Wagner / Barça: Márquez, Van Bronckhorst, Iniesta, Motta for Thuram, Zambrotta, Xavi, Edmilson.

Goals:
1-0. 37. Robert. Header from close up after Nano headed back Assunçao corner.
1-1. 61. Márquez. Angled near post header past Doblas from Deco's corner.

Barcelona ended the first half of the season as "winter champions", one point clear of Sevilla and Real Madrid, after drawing 1-1 at Betis on Wednesday night. The match had been rescheduled due to Barça's participation in the Club World Cup in December. And both sides were looking for a win, the visitors to distance themselves from their nearest rivals and the home side to try and get out of the relegation spots. But the match took a long time to get going, with neither side creating a clear cut chance until Saviola shot wide around the half hour mark.

First blood went to Betis though a few minutes later, Robert heading unmarked into an empty net after Nano headed back Marcos Assunçao's corner. Assunçao went close with a long shot after the restart, and Ronaldinho and Giuly both had chances before Márquez got on the end of Deco's corner to equalise with an angled header from the near post. After that things died down again, although Dani almost got a last minute winner when he headed just past the post following a long free kick.