Barcelona: Víctor Valdés;
Adriano, Puyol (Piqué 46'), Abidal, Maxwell; Xavi (Keita 69'), Busquets,
Iniesta; Pedro (Bojan 81'), Messi, David Villa. 4-3-3.
Racing:
Toño; Francis, Henrique, Torrejón, Christian; Colsa,
Lacen; Kennedy Bakircioglu (Arana 60'), Adrián González, Cisma
(Ariel Nahuelpán 67'); Rosenberg (Luque 75'). 4-2-3-1.
Goals:
1-0. 02. Pedro. Chested ball over line after Messi
chipped across from by-line.
2-0. 33. Messi (penalty). After Villa tripped
by Henrique inside penalty box.
3-0. 56. Iniesta. Fired shot past
Toño after Pedro laid back Villa's square pass.
Yellow cards: None.
Barcelona moved seven points clear at the top of the table pending Real Madrid's game tomorrow after beating Racing Santander 3-0 on Saturday evening. The first goal came with only a minute and a half on the clock, Pedro chesting the ball over the line after Messi chipped a cross in from the left by-line. Messi had a goal ruled out soon afterwards for a borderline offside, and Toño had to produce first class saves from Messi, Puyol and Adriano before Henrique tripped Villa in the area, Messi slotting home the resulting penalty kick. Adrián González tested Valdés with a strong header just before the break as Racing looked to get back in the game, but ten minutes after the restart Iniesta fired home the third after Pedro laid back Villa's cross. It could have been more if Toño had not kept out Villa, Messi and Iniesta in the next few minutes, but with a cup semi-final coming up next Wednesday it was time after that to run down the clock.