Albacete 1 - Barcelona 2

Albacete: Roa; Oscar Montiel, Pablo, Unai, Peña; Viaud, Parri (David Sánchez 46'); Iván Díaz (Mikel 73'), Pacheco (Pablo García 58'), Delporte; Amato. 4-2-3-1.
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Puyol, Reiziger, Cocu, Van Bronckhorst; Xavi, Gerard; Saviola (Quaresma 76'), Ronaldinho (Iniesta 83'), Luis Enrique (Overmars 70'); Kluivert. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Albacete: Pacheco, Amato for Lawal, Cacá / Barça: Reiziger, Cocu, Van Bronckhorst, Saviola, Kluivert for Márquez, Andersson, Oscar López, Quaresma, Sergio García.

Goals:
0-1. 02. Cocu. Collected Kluivert pass and curled shot past Roa from edge of area.
0-2. 67. Luis Enrique. Deflected Unai's attempted tackle over head of keeper.
1-2. 91. Pablo. Following up after Víctor Valdés pushed out Amato header.

There was a full house for the first time ever at Albacete's Carlos Belmonte stadium to see the visit of Barcelona, but the fans left disappointed after their side lost 1-2, their third defeat in a row. With Kluivert available after serving out a two match ban from last season, Rijkaard decided to play his "trident", Saviola, Ronaldinho and the Dutch striker all in the line up. However it was the newly converted defender Cocu who opened the scoring in the second minute, picking up a ball on the edge of the area and making himself space to beat Roa.

Albacete were looking for their first goal of the season, and Iván Díaz almost got it when he headed just wide. But the visitors had most of the play in the first 45 minutes, Ronaldinho hitting the bar with a curling free kick and Kluivert shooting just over the bar. After the break though the locals came back, with Valdés saving from Amato and Oscar having a goal disallowed for a tight offside.

Immediately afterwards though Barcelona came forward, and Luis Enrique increased the lead somewhat fortunately when he stuck out a foot to block Pablo's clearance and the ball bounced back over Roa's head. Nerves started to fray and rookie referee Lizondo Cortés produced red cards to a member of the home side bench and then to Peña for insulting his fellow colleagues.

Rijkaard brought on Iniesta for his league debut in his home town, and he shot just wide. But Pablo finally got the goal the fans were waiting for, and Amato almost saved a point in injury time when he got the ball in the net only to see it disallowed again for another offside decision. The referee was given a hard time when he left the pitch.