Barcelona 1 - Racing Santander 0

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Zambrotta, Puyol, Milito, Sylvinho (Abidal 82'); Iniesta, Gudjohnsen (Márquez 58'), Deco; Giovani (Messi 65'), Bojan, Henry. 4-3-3.
Racing: Coltorti; Sergio Sánchez, César Navas, Oriol, Luis Fernández; Jorge López, Jordi, Duscher, Oscar Serrano (Colsa 61'); Iván Bolado (Pablo Alvarez 46'), Tchite (Pinillos 75'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Barça: Milito, Iniesta, Deco, Giovani for Thuram, Xavi, Márquez, Eto'o / Racing: Coltorti, Oriol, Luis Fernández, Duscher for Toño, Garay, Ayoze, Colsa.

Goals:
1-0. 30. Henry. Header from close up after César Navas tried to clear Deco corner.

Barcelona stayed in touch with leaders Real Madrid after a 1-0 win over sixth placed Racing Santander, albeit that they are still seven points behind Bernd Schuster's team.

Henry and Bojan both headed over the top in the opening minutes, and with half an hour gone Henry got what was to be the only goal of the game, heading in from close to goal after an attempt by César Navas to clear Deco's corner fell kindly to him.

Jorge López and Deco traded long shots soon after the restart, and Valdés had to be on his toes to save from Oscar Serrano when he broke free on a quick breakaway.

The Cantabrians ran out of forwards though after Tchité went off injured, and Frank Rijkaard's side shut up shop, Iniesta bringing a good save out of Coltorti and Giovani trying a shot with other team mates better placed (not for the first time).

The crowd took it out on the young Mexican when he went off, but the good news for Rijkaard was that he was replaced by Messi, who had been out for some time with an injury.