Barcelona 2 - Bayer Leverkusen 0

Barcelona: Bonano; Gabri, Andersson, Frank De Boer (Oleguer 62'), Reiziger; Xavi, Mendieta; Overmars (Iniesta 68'), Saviola (Motta 46'), Riquelme; Kluivert. 4-2-3-1.
Bayer: Butt; Ojigwe, Cris, Kaluzny, Kleine; Balitsch; Simak, Bastürk (Schneider 74'), Babic (Dogan 34'); Berbatov (Brdaric 58'), França. 4-1-3-2.

Goals:
1-0. 17. Saviola. Collected Overmars cross and shot wide of keeper.
2-0. 49. Frank De Boer. Header which took deflection off Kleine from Xavi corner.

Group A:
Barcelona....................... 13 points
Inter Milan.......................... 8 points
Newcastle......................... 7 points
Bayer Leverkusen.......... 0 points

Barcelona are the first Spanish side through to the quarter finals after they defeated a depleted Bayer Leverkusen 2-0. Even though they only needed a point to be sure of finishing top of the group, Antic put out a first choice side, with Andersson returning to the starting line up for the first time since recovering from a long injury. The Swedish defender was in action early on, somehow keeping out a close range effort from Berbatov, and the Bulgarian striker could have scored a couple of minutes later when he shot over the bar when put through in front of goal.

After that the Catalans settled down, and in the seventeenth minute Saviola put them in front, picking up a cross from Overmars and rolling the ball wide of the Butt. Xavi shot straight at the keeper and Saviola was pulled up for a borderline offside after Mendieta passed over the top, and Riquelme forced a good save out of the keeper before the half time whistle.

The pressure continued after the break, and Kluivert almost beat Butt with a deft flick after Riquelme crossed in. A couple of minutes later the keeper turned Riquelme's long shot around the post, and from the resulting corner De Boer's header was deflected into the net by Leverkusen defender Kleine. Riquelme continued to create problems for the defence and almost set up Kluivert once again. But the game was effectively over, and although Brdaric did put a shot just wide in the last minute, the Germans were not really thinking about anything other than getting the next plane home.

The victory means that Barça made it twelve wins and a draw in their thirteen European games this season, and can go on to their last game at Newcastle in a relaxed mood. They are now ensured of first place in their group and a top seeding for the quarter finals. However that may work against them, as they now have a good chance of being drawn against one of the other Spanish sides, any of whom could finish as runners up in their respective groups.