Barcelona 2 - Getafe 0

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Belletti, Oleguer, Márquez, Van Bronckhorst; Iniesta, Xavi, Deco (Motta 89'); Giuly, Maxi López (Messi 86'), Ronaldinho. 4-3-3.
Getafe: Sánchez Broto; Yanguas, Belenguer, Nano, Pernía; Mario Cotelo, Diego Rivas (Kome 74'), Gabi, Vivar Dorado; Craioveanu (Asen 56'), Riki (Yordi 25'). 4-4-2.

Team changes: Barcelona: Deco, Maxi López for Puyol, Eto'o / Getafe: Yanguas, Gabi, for Albiol, Kome.

Goals:
1-0. 30. Ronaldinho. Curled free kick through defensive wall and inside post.
2-0. 56. Giuly. Ran on to Ronaldinho through ball and lifted shot past keeper.

Barcelona maintain their six point lead over Real Madrid after beating Getafe 2-0 in the last game on Sunday evening. With Madrid picking up three points against Levante before the match kicked off, the pressure was on Frank Rijkaard's side to perform. But after a promising start in which Ronaldinho tested Sánchez Broto a couple of times, the visitors grew in confidence, with Cotelo, Riki and Nano all going close.

Maxi López was making a rare start for the home side in place of the injured Eto'o, and he just failed to turn Deco's free kick past the keeper. But on the half hour mark Giuly won a free kick on the edge of the area, and Ronaldinho stepped up to curl a shot wide of the surprised keeper. And Van Bronckhorst could have scored a second before the break when Sánchez Broto just managed to tip his long shot over the bar.

After that it was all Barça, Giuly shooting wide before picking up a through ball from Ronaldinho to make it two. Xavi shot just over the bar and then brought another good save out of the keeper, and Iniesta had another effort deflected by Nano. But they were never in danger of losing the lead, and Rijkaard took advantage to bring on Motta for the final minutes, the crowd giving a standing ovation to the Brazilian midfielder on his return after a seven month lay-off for a serious knee injury. The game ended in a festival atmosphere, but the coach knows that there is still a long way to go before they can claim that much coveted league title.