Barcelona 2 - Deportivo La Coruña 1

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Zambrotta, Puyol, Thuram, Van Bronckhorst (Motta 92'); Xavi, Edmilson, Iniesta (Oleguer 75'); Messi (Giuly 84'), Eto'o, Ronaldinho. 4-3-3.
Deportivo: Dudu Aouate; Coloccini, Lopo, Andrade, Capdevila; De Guzman (Sergio 83'), Juan Rodríguez; Estoyanoff, Verdú, Cristian; Riki (Adrián López 61'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Barça: Van Bronckhorst, Edmilson for Sylvinho, Deco / Depor: De Guzman, Estoyanoff, Verdú for Arizmendi, Sergio, Adrián López.

Goals:
1-0. 44. Messi. Controlled Ronaldinho lob on chest and fired shot past Aouate.
2-0. 51. Eto'o. Turned low shot past keeper after rapid team passing move.
2-1. 69. Adrián. Intercepted Gio's headed clearance and ran on to beat Valdés

Barcelona moved three points clear of Sevilla pending their game on Sunday after beating Deportivo 2-1 on Saturday evening. With their first choice front line now back in action, the Catalans were on top in the first half, with Xavi shooting wide in the second minute and Ronaldinho testing Aouate with a free kick. Estoyanoff got through but was closed down by Thuram, and Lopo was lucky to be let off a penalty appeal when the ball hit his arm inside the area.

With the first half coming to an end Messi finally opened the scoring for Frank Rijkaard's side, controlling Ronaldinho's lofted pass on his chest before drilling a shot past Aouate. And Eto'o made it two soon after the restart, beating the keeper after a quick passing move involving Ronaldinho and Iniesta ended with Andrade deflecting the ball into the forward's path.

Defensive errors started to creep in though, and Valdés had to save from Adrián López before the substitute took advantage of a mistake by Van Bronckhorst to pull one back. Aouate did well to keep out Eto'o after a clever back-heel pass from Ronaldinho, but Valdés was called upon again to save from Adrián after Puyol kicked the ground trying to clear. The game ended soon afterwards though, and Barça were back on top.