Barcelona 2 - Deportivo La Coruña 1

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Belletti (Gerard 90'), Oleguer, Puyol, Gio Van Bronckhorst; Xavi, Márquez, Deco; Giuly (Iniesta 72'), Eto'o (Larsson 80'), Ronaldinho. 4-3-3.
Deportivo: Molina; Manuel Pablo, Pablo Amo, Romero, Capdevila; Scaloni, Sergio; Munitis, Valerón (Víctor 69'), Fran (Changui 85'); Diego Tristán (Luque 60'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Barcelona: Belletti for Damià / Deportivo: Manuel Pablo, Romero, Scaloni, Sergio, Munitis, Diego Tristán for Héctor, Andrade, Duscher, Víctor, Luque, Pandiani.

Goals:
0-1. 07. Fran. Chested down cross from right and volleyed past Valdés.
1-1. 23. Xavi. Placed shot wide of Molina after Belletti laid ball back from by-line.
2-1. 35. Eto'o. Fired shot into net after Giuly square pass from right.

Leaders Barcelona equalled their best ever start to the season, coming from behind to make it 26 points out of a possible 30 with a 2-1 win over Deportivo. Frank Rijkaard's side found themselves behind in the eighth minute when Márquez tried to clear a Munitis cross and the ball fell to Fran for him to volley a shot past Valdés. But after a period of intense pressure in which Márquez headed wide and Giuly went close twice, Xavi levelled the scores following Márquez's quickly taken free kick, Belletti laying the ball back for the Spanish international to shoot wide of Molina.

By half time the Catalans were in front, a mis-hit shot from Márquez falling kindly for Giuly to square across to Eto'o, who ran the ball into the empty net. And they could have been further ahead had Molina not made important saves from Eto'o and Márquez.

Irureta had given Diego Tristán a first run out up front, and Puyol cut out the striker as he advanced on goal. The manager took him off though on the hour mark to bring on Luque, who brought a good save out of Valdés almost immediately. But otherwise it was the home side who dominated the game, and Xavi, Iniesta and Márquez could all have added a third later on.

The down side was an injury to Belletti, who turned his ankle near the end, but Barça go on to their seventh straight win at home, and after beating AC Milan midweek it is difficult to see who could stop them. Depor fall to their first away defeat in the league, another blow coming after their loss against Liverpool, but at least they put up a good fight.