First Division - Day 30

Barcelona 2 - Recreativo Huelva 0

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Daniel Alves, Márquez, Martín Cáceres, Sylvinho; Iniesta (Hleb 75'), Busquets, Gudjohnsen (Xavi 62'); Messi, Bojan (Keita 64'), Henry. 4-3-3.
Recreativo: Riesgo; Alain Nef, Morris, Lamas, Casado; Barber; Sisi, Javi Fuego, Nayar (Akalé 75'), Camuñas; Marco Rubén (Ersen Martín 74'). 4-1-4-1.

Team changes: Barcelona: Daniel Alves, Martín Cáceres, Gudjohnsen, Messi, Bojan, Henry for Puyol, Piqué, Xavi, Keita, Pedro, Eto'o / Recreativo: Alain Nef, Casado, Sisi, Javi Fuego, Nayar, Marco Rubén for Iago Bouzón, Poli, Jesús Vázquez, Maidana, Aitor, Adrián Colunga.

Goals:
1-0. 01. Iniesta. Got on the end of Henry's deflected cross to score from close up.
2-0. 67. Morris (own goal). Deflected Iniesta cross inside near post past Riesgo.

Yellow cards: Casado 67'.

Barcelona moved nine points clear at the top pending Real Madrid's game on Sunday after beating Recreativo 2-0. After their dazzling display against Bayern Munich this was more a workman-like performance, although they got off to the best possible start when Iniesta turned in Henry's cross with less than a minute on the clock.

Recre needed points themselves though to try and climb out of the relegation spots, and Valdés was tested a couple of times by Rubén and Nayar early on. Lamas headed a free kick wide after that, and the locals didn't cause too many problems for the local defence until Morris cleared a dangerous shot from Messi away from in front of goal close to half time.

A few minutes after the restart Riesgo pushed a long shot from Bojan over the bar, but Valdés had to make a double save from Rubén and Sisi, Iturralde González turning down appeals for a penalty. The referee was in action again to rule out a strike from Henry for a borderline offside after a good run by Iniesta, and soon afterwards Barça went two up after Morris deflected an incisive pass from Iniesta past his own keeper.

Henry could have scored a third when he headed wide in front of goal, and with six minutes to go Messi saw his penalty kick saved by Riesgo after a cross from Dani Alves hit Casado on the arm. The visitors felt hard done by when substitute Ersen Martin turned Akalé's cross past Valdés only for Iturralde to rule it offside, but time ran out soon afterwards and the Andalusians stay in the bottom three for another week at least.