Barcelona 0 - Deportivo La Coruña 2

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Gabri, Puyol, Cocu, Van Bronckhorst; Gerard, Motta; Luis Enrique (Sergio Santamaría 46'), Ronaldinho, Luis García; Saviola. 4-2-3-1.
Deportivo: Molina; Manuel Pablo, Andrade, Naybet, Capdevila; Sergio (Duscher 73'), Mauro Silva; Víctor (Diego Tristán 82'), Valerón, Luque (Fran 78'); Pandiani. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Barça: Gabri, Cocu, Motta, Luis García, Saviola for Márquez, Reiziger, Xavi, Overmars, Kluivert / Deportivo: Capdevila, Luque for Romero, Fran.

Goals:
0-1. 15. Luque. Touched Capdevila cross past Víctor Valdés close to goal.
0-2. 70. Sergio. Shot low from edge of area after Valerón laid ball in from right.

Deportivo La Coruña moved back to the top of the table pending Valencia's result on Sunday after beating Barcelona 0-2 in a rainy Nou Camp. The locals were in a positive mood after their crushing win against Matador Puchov in the UEFA cup midweek, and with Kluivert unavailable, Rijkaard stuck to the same outfield line up, only bringing back keeper Víctor Valdés in place of Rüstü.

However they found it harder going against their opponent's well organised defence, and although they did most of the attacking early on, Molina and his central defenders Naybet and Andrade got the better of Saviola, Ronaldinho and company. Depor meanwhile were looking for something on the breakaway, and had penalty appeals turned down for possible fouls on Víctor and Luque midway through the first half.

For a few minutes either side could have scored, with Víctor shooting just wide and Molina saving from Saviola. But five minutes before the break the visitors took the lead, Luque getting on the end of Capdevila's cross to touch the ball wide of Víctor Valdés.

Rijkaard made what was to be his only change of the game at the break, bringing on B team winger Sergio Santamaría for Luis Enrique. Valerón tested Valdés with a header and Luis García came close to equalising at the other end when he hit the post with a long shot. But soon afterwards Valerón played the ball into space from right of goal and Sergio ran on to fire a low shot into the back of the net.

After the second goal Irureta decided to rest some of his key players for Tuesday's Champions League game with Mallorca, although he allowed Pandiani to stay on to give him a chance to establish a new league record of scoring in every one of the first seven games. He didn't make it, but his side ran down the clock efficiently to keep up their challenge at the top.

The Barcelona fans started to leave with fifteen minutes to go, disappointed with their side who drop to the second half of the table. The Catalans have now only picked up two points from four home games, equalling their worst ever start to the season in the Nou Camp. Rijkaard though still has the backing of his management, but if things don't change soon, it won't be long before they start looking for someone else.