First Division - Day 12

Barcelona 4 - Villarreal 0

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Zambrotta, Thuram, Puyol, Van Bronckhorst; Iniesta, Edmilson (Oleguer 78'), Deco; Giuly (Xavi 68'), Gudjohnsen (Ezquerro 72'), Ronaldinho. 4-3-3.
Villarreal: Barbosa; Javi Venta, Cygan, Fuentes, Arruabarrena; Marcos Senna, Josico (Tacchinardi 46'); Cani, José Marí (Guille Franco 46'), Marcos García; Diego Forlán. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Barça: Zambrotta, Thuram, Sylvinho, Edmilson for Oleguer, Márquez, Motta / Villarreal: Cygan, José Marí for Quique Alvarez, Nihat.

Goals:
1-0. 35. Ronaldinho (penalty). After Gudjohnsen pulled down by Cygan inside area.
2-0. 55. Gudjohnsen. Far post header close to goal from Iniesta's lifted cross.
3-0. 70. Iniesta. Got on the end of Zambrotta cross to volley shot down past keeper.
4-0. 88. Ronaldinho. Overhead kick after controlling Xavi pass on his chest.

Barcelona extended their lead at the top of the table to four points pending Sunday's games after beating Villarreal 4-0 on Saturday evening. Frank Rijkaard's side started slowly once again, but took the lead ten minutes before the break after Cygan pulled down Gudjohnsen in the area, Ronaldinho firing home the spot kick for his 50th league goal in Spain.

After that though it was one way traffic to half time, Barbosa making first class saves from Ronaldinho, Deco and Gio Van Bronckhorst. And early in the second half Gio, Ronaldinho and Deco all missed chances before Iniesta crossed in for Gudjohnsen to head in on the far post, referee Pérez Lasa waving away claims for offside.

Valdés saved from Diego Forlán at the other end, but Barbosa had to keep out Giuly again before Iniesta made it three, leaping into the air to volley Zambrotta's cross down past the keeper. The visitors were lucky not to get one back when Valdés kept out Marcos Senna and Forlán drilled the rebound against the post, Guille Franco putting the follow up wide.

But with two minutes to go Ronaldinho completed the rout with a goal which was even special by his own standards, controlling Xavi's pass on his chest with his back to goal before firing an overhead kick past Barbosa, moving to the top of the Pichichi chart into the bargain. The television pictures will circle the world.