Barcelona 5 - Rayo Vallecano 1

Barcelona: Dutruel; Reiziger, Frank De Boer, Puyol; Luis Enrique, Guardiola, Rivaldo, Cocu (Petit 71'); Zenden (Sergi 54'), Kluivert (Gabri 46'), Overmars. 3-4-3.
Rayo: Keller; Alcázar, De Quintana, Ballesteros, Mingo; Mauro, Helder, Quevedo, Michel (Setvalls 73'); Luis Cembranos; Bolo (Bolic 73'). 4-4-1-1.

Team changes: Barcelona: Guardiola for Xavi / Rayo: Michel for Iván Iglesias.

Goals:
1-0. 07. Luis Enrique. Tap in on far post after Kluivert shot going wide.
1-1. 17. Michel. First time shot after Cembranos run down right wing.
2-1. 52. Rivaldo. Picked up Guardiola pass and chipped over stranded Keller.
3-1. 69. Luis Enrique. Header down into net after Guardiola cross from left.
4-1. 75. Overmars. Cut in from left past Ballesteros and lifted ball past Keller.
5-1. 91. Petit. Pulled ball back and volleyed from edge of area.

Barcelona finally got back to winning ways after having gone a run of nine league matches with only one victory. The turning point of the match came at half time when Rexach decided to substitute Patrick Kluivert after the Dutch striker had been booed by his own fans throughout the first 45 minutes. Kluivert is currently renegotiating his contract, and told press recently that if Barcelona were not willing to pay him the 1,000 million Pesetas a year deal he is asking for then he would go to a club who would, and that would include Real Madrid who were rumoured to be making an offer for him. After Figo's controversial signing in the summer for Barcelona's arch-rivals that went down like a ton of bricks, and the fans made clear what they thought of that every time he touched the ball.

Kluivert did have a hand in Barça's opening goal, his half hit shot being turned in by Luis Enrique, and his team dominated the early minutes of the game. However an electrifying run by ex Barcelona and Espanyol midfielder Luis Cembranos, who left three or four defenders for dead before laying the ball on a plate for Michel, levelled the scores with just over a quarter of an hour gone. Barcelona continued to attack, with Rivaldo (playing with a pain-killing injection) claiming that his free kick had gone over the line as Keller scooped it back with a late reaction save. The US keeper also kept out efforts from Overmars and Cocu before the break, but with Kluivert's thoughts elsewhere and Rayo threatening to take over, Rexach brought on Gabri and moved Rivaldo up to the centre forward position.

The move worked almost immediately, and Rivaldo got his first league goal in a month with a clever weighted chip over the advancing Keller. Rayo responded through Bolo and Helder and Dutruel had to make his first real saves of the night. But then Barça added two in six minutes, with Sergi and Guardiola combining to set up Luis Enrique for his second, and Overmars going through on his own to lift the ball past Keller. In injury time Overmars ex Arsenal teammate Petit got his name on the scoresheet for the first time in the league since joining the club with a spectacular volley from the edge of the area just 20 minutes after coming on as substitute. The fans rejoiced as their team closed to within three points of Valencia and Mallorca, currently occupying the last two Champions League spots. Rayo are still looking for the couple of points they need in order to be totally sure of first division football next season, although it would need a total disaster for them to go down.