Barcelona 4 - Espanyol 1

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Reiziger, Oleguer (Gabri 83'), Cocu,Van Bronckhorst; Xavi, Motta, Davids; Iniesta (Quaresma 83'), Saviola (Kluivert 68'), Ronaldinho. 4-3-3.
Espanyol: Lemmens; Domoraud, Lopo, Pochettino, Torricelli (Morales 59'); Fredson, Alex Fernández (Velamazán 53'), Wome; Maxi (Raducanu 66'), Hadji; Tamudo. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Barça: Motta, Iniesta for Puyol, Overmars / Espanyol: Wome, Maxi for Velamazán, De la Peña.

Goals:
0-1. 18. Tamudo (penalty). After Oleguer brought down Tamudo in area.
1-1. 35. Ronaldinho. Headed down across Lemmens from Iniesta's cross.
2-1. 44. Saviola. Ran on to Ronaldinho flicked pass to shoot past Lemmens.
3-1. 55. Van Bronckhorst. Finished off after Xavi played on Ronaldinho pass.
4-1. 58. Saviola. Tap in after Lemmens let Reiziger's cross through his hands.

Barcelona moved to within a point of second placed Real Madrid after thrashing city rivals Espanyol 4-1, their seventeenth league game in a row without defeat. The game was preceded by the presentation of Barça's new cycling team, and Espanyol president Daniel Sánchez Llibre was in the directors' box for the first time in four years after falling out with ex president Joan Gaspart.

The "Periquitos" had not won in the Nou Camp in 22 years, but they were desperate for a victory to climb out of the relegation zone and they got off to a good start, Maxi failing to beat Víctor Valdés early on but Tamudo opening the scoring from the penalty spot a few minutes later after Tamudo was brought down by Oleguer on the edge of the area and converted the kick himself.

After that though the hosts took control, and ten minutes before half time a superb Ronaldinho sent Iniesta away down the right and ran in to meet the return cross and head the equaliser past Lemmens. The visiting keeper had to be at his best to keep out a Motta free kick (Saviola putting the rebound wide with the goal at his mercy) and another long effort from Ronaldinho, but he could do nothing on the stroke of half time when Saviola ran through after Ronaldinho flicked on Xavi's pass to fire the ball in to the net.

It was more of the same after the break, Davids and Saviola both going close before Ronaldinho and Xavi combined again to set up Van Bronckhorst to score the third. And three minutes later Saviola made it four after Lemmens let Reiziger's cross through his hands leaving the Argentine striker with the easiest of tap-ins.

Espanyol had not been without chances themselves though, Maxi missing two easy opportunities earlier in the half and Tamudo curling a shot just wide after the fourth goal. But Barça could have added to their scoreline, Iniesta shooting wide when through on goal and substitute Kluivert hitting the post late on. The only bad news for the home side was an injury to Quaresma which could even keep him out of Portugal's squad for Euro 2004. But the machine rolls on, and they are now a good bet at least to clinch second spot, which ensures an automatic place in the Champions' League.