Barcelona 2 - Sevilla 1

Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Zambrotta, Márquez, Milito, Abidal; Xavi (Giovani 61'), Touré Yayá (Oleguer 87'), Deco; Messi (Bojan 89'), Henry, Iniesta. 4-3-3.
Sevilla: Palop; Daniel Alves (Martí 82'), Escudé, Boulahrouz, Dragutinovic; Keita, Poulsen; Jesús Navas (Kerzhakov 78'), Renato, Adriano (Duda 46'); Kanouté. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Barça: Márquez, Xavi, Messi for Thuram, Giovani, Ronaldinho / Sevilla: Escudé, Poulsen, Adriano for Fazio, Duda, Kerzhakov.

Goals:
1-0. 73. Messi. Controlled hard Henry cross and hooked shot past Palop.
2-0. 80. Messi (penalty). After Giovani held back by Poulsen in area.
2-1. 92. Kanouté. Picked up long pass and lifted ball over Víctor Valdés.

Barcelona beat Sevilla 2-1 on Saturday evening to move up to second in the table. Frank Rijkaard's side didn't miss the injured Ronaldinho, and had several chances to open the scoring in the first half. With only a minute on the clock Henry had a shot blocked by the defence, and Abidal and Deco both tried their luck with long shots shortly before half time.

Sevilla hardly troubled Valdés throughout the match, although Renato headed against the upright midway through the first half. The locals continued to dominate after the restart however, and Palop just did enough to turn Henry's shot against the post after the striker picked up a long pass from Márquez.

Three minutes later though Barça were ahead when Messi picked up a driven cross from Henry and volleyed a shot past the keeper. And soon afterwards Messi added the second from the penalty spot after Pôulsen fouled Giovani in the area. Kanouté got a last minute consolation goal after picking up a long ball out of midfield and holding off Oleguer to score, but it came too late to change the result.