Barcelona 1 - Real Sociedad 0

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Gabri, Oleguer, Puyol (Gerard 78'), Reiziger; Xavi, Cocu, Davids; Ronaldinho, Saviola (Quaresma 68'), Overmars (Luis Enrique 80'). 4-3-3.
Real Sociedad: Alberto; López Rekarte, Kvarme, Schürrer, Potillón; Xabi Alonso (Xabi Prieto 78'), Jauregi, Aramburu; Karpin, Gabilondo; Nihat (Kovacevic 82'). 4-3-2-1.

Team changes: Barça: Overmars for Luis García / Real: Schürrer, Potillón, Aramburu for Aranzábal, Alkiza, Kovacevic.

Goals:
1-0. 89. Ronaldinho. Whipped free kick over defensive wall and into top of net.

A last minute free kick from Ronaldinho gave Barcelona a 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad, extending their winning record in the league to nine games. The Brazilian star was celebrating his 24th birthday, and followed in the footsteps of Fernando Torres the day before with an excellent performance which could have earned him two or three goals before he finally beat Alberto, including one glorious run in the first half when he left four defenders for dead before shooting just wide of the post.

Visiting manager Reynald Denoueix had obviously come to the Nou Camp looking for a point, and he lined up with a packed midfield and only Nihat up front, with Kovacevic starting the game on the bench. And for most of the match the tactic worked, with Barça limited (Ronaldinho excepted) to an effort from Saviola and a good run by Puyol before the break. Oleguer, Xavi and Cocu all failed to find the target after the restart, and Nihat almost caught out Víctor Valdés with a vicious free kick which rattled the crossbar.

But with the crowd resigned to an end to their winning run, there was "Dinho" once again to save the day. Frank Rijkaard's side stay five points behind Valencia, who are now only a point behind the faltering leaders Real Madrid. Dare they dream of winning the championship after such a bad start to the season? They just might!