Real Murcia 0 - Barcelona 2

Real Murcia: Bonano; Zamora, Hurtado, Azkárate; Valera, Acciari, Jensen (Luis García 46'), Carreras; Richi, Gancedo (Michel 74'); Esnaider (David Karanka 57'). 3-4-2-1.
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Reiziger, Oleguer, Puyol, Gabri; Xavi, Cocu, Davids (Márquez 82'); Luis García (Overmars 10'), Saviola (Luis Enrique 71'), Ronaldinho. 4-3-3.

Team changes: Murcia: Zamora, Jensen, Gancedo for Loeschbor, Luis García, Sebas / Barça: Gabri, Saviola for Van Bronckhorst, Luis Enrique.

Goals:
0-1. 04. Saviola. From close up after defence failed to cut out Xavi free kick.
0-2. 62. Ronaldinho. Steadied ball and scored after good run from Overmars.

Barcelona came back from their midweek defeat at the hands of Celtic to beat bottom club Real Murcia 0-2 and move ahead of Deportivo into third place. The Catalans were more than a match for John Toshack's young side, which included three players from their youth team, and the result was never in doubt from the fourth minute when Saviola got on the end of Xavi's free kick to bundle the ball past his ex team mate Bonano.

Rijkaard suffered a blow a few minutes later when Luis García limped off with an injury, and Richi put visiting keeper Víctor Valdés to the test with a long shot soon afterwards. But otherwise it was all Barça, with Xavi bringing a good save out of Bonano and Davids shooting wide before the break.

Toshack brought on his Luis García at half time, and the on-loan Real Madrid forward hit the post with a free kick. Young defender Azkárate also tested Valdés from close up, but a great run by Overmars down the left wing on the hour mark set up Ronaldinho to make it two. Overmars and Gabri could have scored again for Barça after that, but the victory was already theirs and they extend their run to eight straight victories in the league. That record has only been equalled once in the last 30 years, by Louis Van Gaal's first side when they won the league in the 1998/99 season.