Barcelona 4 - Racing Santander 1

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Belletti (Gabri 81'), Puyol, Márquez, Sylvinho; Xavi, Edmilson (Iniesta 70'), Deco; Messi (Giuly 67'), Eto'o, Ronaldinho. 4-3-3.
Racing: Dudu Aouate; Pinillos, Moratón, Neru, Ayoze (Regragui 63'); Antonio Tomás, Vitolo (Casquero 60'), Felipe Melo, Stephane Dalmat (Aganzo 60'), Oscar Serrano; Juanjo. 4-5-1.

Team changes: Barça: Belletti for Oleguer / Racing: Oscar Serrano, Juanjo for Antoñito, Aganzo.

Goals:
1-0. 31. Eto'o. Won ball in midfield and ran through to fire angled shot past Dudu.
2-0. 52. Messi. Picked up pass from Eto'o and rounded Moratón to score.
3-0. 56. Ronaldinho (penalty). After Pinillos brought down Ronaldinho in area.
4-0. 66. Sylvinho. Cut in from left of area to force ball in off Neru.
4-1. 71. Casquero (penalty). After Márquez blocked Aganzo cross with arm.

Leaders Barcelona made it eight straight wins in a row after beating Racing Santander 4-1 in the last game on Sunday evening. Visiting keeper Dudu Aouate saved a second minute penalty from Ronaldinho after referee Ramírez Domínguez ruled that Moratón had tripped Márquez, and the visitors held on for half an hour longer as the Catalans continued to push forward. But Eto'o produced a magnificent run from the half way line on the half hour mark to beat five men and give his side the lead, and Messi got the second early in the second half, picking up a pass from Deco and cutting in from the right to shoot low across the keeper, the youngster's first goal this season.

That opened the way for more goals, and just four minutes later Ronaldinho (who will be picking up the "Golden Ball" award as the best player in the world tomorrow) made up for his penalty miss by winning himself another spot kick and converting it himself. Preciado made three changes in a vain attempt to stop the tide, bit almost immediately Sylvinho won the ball inside the area and battled on, Neru finally getting in a tackle but only succeeding in striking the ball against the left back who deflected it in to the net. Racing finally got one back with yet another penalty twenty minutes from the end, Casquero converting the kick after Márquez blocked Aganzo's cross with his arm. But soon afterwards Aganzo was on his way after picking up a red card for catching the Mexican defender with a loose elbow. Barça could have done more after that, but they opted to run down the clock and save their tired legs.