Barcelona 3 - Atlético Madrid 0

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Oleguer, Milito, Puyol, Abidal; Iniesta, Xavi, Deco; Messi, Henry (Bojan 85'), Ronaldinho (Giovani 80'). 4-3-3.
Atlético: Abbiati; Seitaridis, Pablo, Ze Castro (Eller 46'), Pernía; Reyes (Maxi 55'), Maniche, Raúl García, Simao; Agüero (Luis García 62'), Diego Forlán. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Barça: Puyol, Ronaldinho for Thuram, Touré Yayá / Atlético: Ze Castro, Pernía for Eller, Antonio López.

Goals:
1-0. 15. Deco. Turned ball in from close up after Abbiati spilled Messi cross.
2-0. 20. Messi. Picked up Ronaldinho pass and struck angled shot past keeper.
3-0. 89. Xavi. Got between two defenders to turn Giovani cross into net.

Barcelona are up to second in the table after a 3-0 win over Atlético Madrid. The visitors had not let in a goal in almost eight hours of league and UEFA cup football, but on the quarter hour mark Deco opening the scoring after Abbiati spilled a Messi cross into his path. And just five minutes later Messi picked up a return pass from Ronaldinho to make it two.

After that it was virtually one way traffic, with Deco having a penalty appeal turned down, Ronaldinho shooting just wide, and Abbiati saving from Messi and Milito either side of half time. Henry and Deco both fired shots over the bar after the restart, and Atlético didn't test Valdés until he had to save a difficult shot from substitute Maxi midway through the second half.

Seitaridis and Simao both tried their luck, but Abbiati had to be at his best to keep out Henry, Xavi and Messi as the locals pushed for a third. And with a couple of minutes to go they finally did so after Xavi got on the end of a cross from Giovani to turn the ball in to the net. A convincing win for the Catalans, and a defeat which brings Javier Aguirre's side back to Earth after a good string of results.