Barcelona 3 - Celta 1

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Zambrotta, Oleguer, Puyol, Van Bronckhorst; Xavi, Edmilson (Giuly 68'), Deco; Iniesta (Motta 92'), Saviola (Gudjohnsen 83'), Ronaldinho. 4-3-3.
Celta: Pinto; Angel, Tamas, Lequi, Placente; Oubiña, Iriney; Gustavo López (Antonio Nuñez 70'), Canobbio (Guayre 65'), Nené (Jonathan Aspas 83'); Baiano. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Barça: Zambrotta, Xavi, Edmilson for Márquez, Motta, Giuly / Celta: Tamas for Contreras.

Goals:
1-0. 34. Saviola. Header into roof of net from Van Bronckhorst cross.
1-1. 67. Nené (penalty). After Van Bronckhorst brought down Angel in area.
2-1. 78. Ronaldinho (penalty). After Van Bronckhorst tripped by Tamas.
3-1. 85. Giuly. Ran on to long Deco pass to shoot under legs of Pinto.

Barcelona stay a point clear at the top of the table after beating Celta 3-1 on Sunday night. Sevilla's victory earlier in the evening meant they had to win to keep the lead, and they started well with Edmilson and Xavi both bringing good saves out of Pinto. And with ten minutes to go to the break, Saviola headed Gio Van Bronckhorst's cross past the keeper to open the scoring.

Pinto was in action again to keep out a long shot from Deco and a Ronaldinho free kick after the restart, but midway through the second half referee Delgado Ferreiro awarded a penalty to the visitors after Angel fell in the area, even though it appeared that Oleguer and Gio had run into each other rather than their opponent. Nené converted the kick, but Delgado awarded another controversial penalty to the home side after Gio was tripped by Tamas as he was about to enter the area, and Ronaldinho stepped up to score his first goal of 2007.

Saviola fired a shot over before being replaced to an ovation by the crowd, and Pinto saved from Ronaldinho. Substitute Antonio Nuñez almost caught out Valdés soon afterwards, but with five minutes to go Giuly ran on to Deco's through ball and fired a shot under the legs of Pinto to wrap things up. The Galicians ended with ten men after Lqui was shown a second yellow card, and they are now only two points above the drop zone after a run of nine games without a win.