Barcelona 2 - Racing Santander 0

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Belletti (Oleguer 87'), Puyol, Márquez, Zambrotta; Xavi, Edmilson, Deco; Iniesta (Giuly 61'), Saviola (Messi 68'), Ronaldinho. 4-3-3.
Racing: Calatayud; Pinillos, Garay, Rubén, Oriol; Colsa (Antonio Tomás 77'), Vitolo; Scaloni (Cristian Alvarez 72'), Balboa, Oscar Serrano (Momo 66'); Juanjo. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Barça: Belletti, Iniesta, Ronaldinho for Oleguer, Giuly, Ezquerro / Racing: Oriol, Vitolo, Juanjo for Cristian Fernández, Zigic, Munitis.

Goals:
1-0. 50. Ronaldinho. Curled free kick over wall and down inside near post.
2-0. 67. Ronaldinho. Ran forward to head Deco free kick past Calatayud.

Barcelona opened up a three point gap at the top after beating Racing Santander 2-0. The Cantabrians were missing their front pairing of Munitis and Zigic, both suspended, but they should have gone ahead early in the first half when they awarded a penalty for a foul by Belletti on Juanjo. However Víctor Valdés guessed correctly and saved Garay's spot kick.

After that though the locals dominated the game, Calatayud saving well from Deco and Iniesta, and Iniesta hitting the post shortly before the break. And five minutes after the restart Ronaldinho put them in front with a trademark free kick into the bottom corner of the net.

By now Ronaldinho was building up steam, and he added a second when he ran on to head Deco's long free kick past Calatayud from close to goal. And it could have been more, the Brazilian midfielder producing the play of the game when he cut in from the left wing to hit the post, and then a few minutes later when he chipped in for Giuly to head over with the goal at his mercy.

The good news for Frank Rijkaard as well was the return of Messi, although Eto'o didn't join him on the pitch for the last five minutes or so after refusing to go on following a long period of warming up. Explanations are still pending. An injury to Belletti a couple of minutes later meant that Oleguer had a quick run out, the Catalan defender getting a warm welcome from the crowd despite his controversial declarations in favour of political prisoners last week.