Barcelona 4 - Espanyol 2

Barcelona: Reina; Gabri, Abelardo, Frank De Boer, Sergi; Xavi, Cocu (Gerard70'); Simao (Overmars 46'), Rivaldo (Guardiola 60'), Luis Enrique; Kluivert. 4-2-3-1.
Espanyol: Mora; Navas, Soldevilla, Pochettino, Roger (Toledo 46'); Sergio, Galca; Velamazán (Martín Posse 46'), De Lucas, Arteaga; Tamudo (Serrano 68'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Barcelona: Reina, Simao, Luis Enrique for Dutruel, Reiziger, Overmars / Espanyol: Roger, Galca, Velamazán, De Lucas for Cristóbal, Toledo, Morales, Serrano.

Goals:
1-0. 13. Rivaldo. Beat Mora after through ball by Kluivert.
2-0. 44. Xavi. Strong first time shot inside post from outside of area.
2-1. 53. Martín Posse. Shot under Reina after square pass from Velamazán.
3-1. 57. Rivaldo (penalty). After Soldevilla ruled to have tripped Kluivert.
4-1. 61. Luis Enrique. Lobbed in off post after Kluivert laid ball back.
4-2. 88. Arteaga. Shot from left across keeper and in to bottom far corner.

Plenty of goals and excitement in this Barcelona city derby, with the home side coming out on top to move back up to fifth place in the league. With both first choice goalkeepers injured, Serra Ferrer was forced to continue with youngster Reina in goal after his debut in the UEFA cup midweek. Gabri kept his place at right back after doing well there against Bruges, and Luis Enrique came back after injury. Espanyol's manager Paco Flores put out an almost full strength side, with the only surprise being the inclusion of De Lucas behind Tamudo in attack. Navas switched to right back with Cristóbal still not fully fit. For once the directors' box was missing it's usual array of dignitaries, many having chosen to attend the Davis cup final down the road, and cheers rang out just before kick off as the giant scoreboards showed Spain's winning point.

Espanyol were the first to strike, claiming a penalty for a foul by Gabri on Velamazán, but Barça took the lead a few minutes later when Kluivert put through a clever reverse pass to Rivaldo. Simao hit the post and Mora saved twice from Luis Enrique in one frenzied attack, and Xavi gave the home side a two goal lead just before half time with a shot from outside of the area which bent away from the keeper. Overmars replaced the injured Simao at half time, and Flores brought on Toledo and Posse, a move which paid off almost immediately as the Argentinian forward pulled a goal back after Velamazán crossed from the right on a counter-attack. Referee Daudén Ibáñez then awarded a controversial penalty for a foul by Soldevilla on Kluivert, although it appeared that the Dutch striker had fallen over the ball himself rather than any contact with the defender.

Nobody at the Nou Camp was complaining though, and Rivaldo stepped up to score his second penalty and his third goal in three days, keeping him at the top of the goalscorers chart. Serra Ferrer decided to rest his Brazilian star, much to the disgust of the player who marched off to the dressing room without saying a word. Guardiola came on in his place to a warm welcome from fans. A couple of minutes later Kluivert appeared to be going nowhere, but he back-heeled the ball to Luis Enrique for the Spanish international to place a shot in to the net off the far post. After that Barça let Espanyol come at them, and after Sergio had gone close twice, Martín Posse was unfortunate to be ruled offside erroneously when alone in front of Reina. They did finally get another one back though, Arteaga hitting a low shot through the young keeper in the last minute after a pass from Serrano, who had replaced the injured Tamudo. It was too little too late, and Espanyol drop out of the top half of the league down to twelfth. They have not won now in the Nou Camp stadium for 18 years, and they have to pick themselves up, with Real Madrid to come at Montjuic next week.