Celta 2 - Barcelona 3

Celta: Pinto; George Lucas, Contreras, Lequi, Angel; Oubiña, Iriney; Gustavo López (Jonathan Aspas 84'), Canobbio (Jorge 70'), Nené; Baiano (Jesús Perera 70'). 4-2-3-1.
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Zambrotta, Puyol, Márquez, Van Bronckhorst; Deco, Motta (Edmilson 56'), Iniesta; Giuly (Gudjohnsen 74'), Eto'o, Messi. 4-3-3.

Goals:
1-0. 41. Baiano. Following up after Víctor Valdés blocked shot from Nené.
1-1. 55. Eto'o. Collected return pass from Messi and scored from left of goal.
1-2. 60. Messi. Picked up pass from Iniesta and beat Pinto with shot on turn.
2-2. 64. Gustavo López. Shot low across Valdés from Angel's free kick.
2-3. 88. Gudjohnsen. Controlled cross from left and struck volley past keeper.

Barcelona bounced back from their European Supercup defeat to win their opening league match at Celta 2-3. With Ronaldinho nursing an injury, Márquez took over the responsibility for free kicks, and he sent an effort close to the post early on. Deco brought a good save out of last season's top keeper Pinto, but before half time the hosts took the lead when Baiano found the net after Valdés had stopped a shot from Nené.

Within a quarter of an hour of the restart though, Barça were in front, Eto'o collecting a return pass from Messi to level the scores, and Messi himself getting the second with an angled shot on the turn after a good run by Iniesta. A lapse of concentration by the defence let in Gustavo López to equalize however, and although Celta were left with ten men when Iriney picked up a second booking, the game appeared to be heading for a draw.

With two minutes to go though Gudjohnsen and Angel both went for a cross in the area. The ball bounced up in to the air, but Gudjohnsen was first to connect with the rebound and volleyed a shot in to the back of the net. Frank Rijkaard's side had won, and the Galicians were left with nothing.