Barcelona 3 - Deportivo La Coruña 2

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Belletti (Oleguer 77'), Márquez, Puyol, Sylvinho; Deco, Edmilson, Iniesta (Van Bommel 46'); Larsson (Giuly 64'), Eto'o, Ronaldinho. 4-3-3.
Deportivo: Molina; Manuel Pablo, Juanma, Andrade (César 59'), Capdevila; Duscher (De Guzman 46'), Sergio; Víctor, Munitis, Romero (Diego Tristán 56'); Arizmendi. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Barça: Iniesta, Larsson for Motta, Messi / Depor: Munitis for Rubén Castro.

Goals:
1-0. 03. Ronaldinho. Bent free kick over defensive wall into top corner of net.
1-1. 15. Juanma. Got free of marker to head Sergio cross into roof of net.
1-2. 28. Andrade. Header down past Valdés from long Munitis free kick.
2-2. 33. Larsson. Header down inside far post from Ronaldinho corner.
3-2. 61. Eto'o. Tap in close to goal after Ronaldinho's corner beat everyone.

This entertaining match at the Camp Nou was a story of five set pieces. Ronaldinho was in the starting line up despite limping off in Zaragoza last weekend. The Brazilian showed no sign of any lingering ankle injury as he curled a wonderful free kick over the wall and into the net in the third minute.

Deportivo have a good away record this season and Sergio gave notice that the Galicians would be no pushovers when he warmed Valdés's hands with a long range strike. Depor drew level from a Juanma header from the resulting corner.

Iniesta missed a good chance to put Barça ahead again ten minutes later but he his control let him down after Larsson's header across goal set up the young midfielder. The Swede was causing Depor problems in the air and headed a Ronaldinho free kick just wide on the half hour. The home side were chasing the game at this point after an uncharacteristic lapse in the Barça central defence had allowed Andrade to steal in and head home a Munitis free kick. The Catalans weren't behind for long. Larsson out jumped everybody to make it two each at the break.

The second half was unlikely to live up to the first and so it proved. The home side made the decisive breakthrough when a Ronaldinho corner eluded Márquez and left Eto'o with space to fire home at the back post. Barcelona had the edge throughout a tight second half but were unable to deal Depor a knockout blow. Deco fired a powerful drive just wide and Guily and Eto'o missed late chances to put the result beyond doubt. Deportivo continue to look more comfortable when playing away from the Riazor. But on this occasion they were unable to find a goal which would have led to a repeat of the 3-3 draw between the sides earlier this season.