Recreativo Huelva 0 - Barcelona 2

Recreativo: Riesgo; Iago Bouzón, Morris, Beto, Poli; César Arzo, Jesús Vázquez; Sisi (Marco Rubén 76'), Javi Guerrero (Akalé 57'), Aitor (Camuñas 57'); Adrián Colunga. 4-2-3-1.
Barcelona: Víctor Valdés; Daniel Alves, Márquez, Piqué, Puyol (Sylvinho 69'); Xavi, Touré Yayá, Busquets (Keita 78'); Messi, Eto'o (Bojan 87'), Henry. 4-3-3.

Team changes: Recreativo: Iago Bouzón, Adrián Colunga for Javi Fuego, Marco Rubén / Barcelona: Busquets for Gudjohnsen.

Goals:
0-1. 51. Messi. Picked up Xavi pass from set-piece free kick and shot past Riesgo.
0-2. 85. Keita. Turned ball in on far post after Eto'o played back Henry's cross.

Yellow cards: Dani Alves 32', Sisi 37', César Arzo 72', Beto 90'.

Barcelona opened up a three point gap at the top of the first division after beating Recreativo 0-2 on Sunday evening, their ninth win in a row in the league. It took them a bit longer than usual to open the scoring though, despite dominating the first half. Riesgo kept out efforts from Messi, Eto'o and Henry and Busquets and Henry fired shots wide, and Valdés was only called on once to stop a header from César Arzo.

Messi made the breakthrough though six minutes in to the second half following a set-piece Xavi free kick, the Argentinian forward sneaking behind the defensive wall and reappearing on the other side to collect Xavi's pass and shoot unmarked past the keeper.

Recre now had to attack, and Akalé and Camuñas came on to make their mark, the former shooting over and the latter heading against the post. But Barça could have added to the lead, Henry hitting the bar and then the post, and Eto'o putting another chance just wide.

With five minutes to go though Keita got the second, turning the ball in from close up after Eto'o played back Henry's cross. Bojan came on after that and had time to head an Alves free kick against the bar, but that was about it. Barça were further ahead at the top, and Recre drop to next to bottom spot. They need some good results quickly, but with Real Madrid and Villarreal up next that isn't going to be easy.