First Division - Day 27

Osasuna 0 - Barcelona 1

Osasuna: Elía; Expósito, Cruchaga, Cuéllar, Clavero; Ortíz (Valdo 55', David López 69'), Puñal, Muñoz, Delporte; Aloisi (Webó 55'), Morales. 4-4-2.
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Belletti, Oleguer, Puyol, Sylvinho; Xavi, Márquez (Gerard 46'), Deco; Iniesta, Eto'o, Ronaldinho. 4-3-3.

Team changes: Osasuna: Cruchaga, Muñoz, Morales for Flaño, Pablo García, Milosevic / Barcelona: Belletti, Sylvinho, Iniesta for Van Bronckhorst, Gerard, Maxi López.

Goals:
0-1. 39. Eto'o. picked up pass from Deco and shot through keeper in off post.

Barcelona extended their lead at the top of the table to eight points after a 0-1 victory over Osasuna. The first chance of the match fell to Ortíz when his shot was blocked by Víctor Valdés, but after that Frank Rijkaard's side took over, Iniesta almost scoring when he burst through and shot against the crossbar. Expósito almost caught out his own keeper with a wayward back-pass, and Márquez chipped keeper Elía only to see his shot go just wide. It was only a matter of time though, and Eto'o finally put his side in front when he ran on to Deco's pass and fired a powerful shot which Elía got a hand to but could not stop from entering the net off the far post.

Rijkaard had to replace Márquez at the break though when he picked up a strained muscle, and Osasuna got back in to the game. Valdés did well to keep out Morales, and substitute Valdo was starting to cause some problems before an untimely injury a few minutes later meant he too had to leave the field of play. Ronaldinho sent a free kick just over the bar, but Valdés was in action soon afterwards saving from Delporte as Aguirre's side pushed for the equaliser. In the end though Barça held on for the three points, and could have had a bigger win had Iniesta not shot wide when free in front of goal in the dying minutes.