Barcelona 3-0 Gimnastic

Barcelona returned to the top of the table and claimed the title of 'winter champions' after defeating Gimnastic 3-0 in a game with relatively few scoring chances. Goals from Saviola, Giuly and Iniesta sealed a hard earned victory.

It was a slow first half from Barca though, with Gimnastic showing a lot of courage at the Camp Nou, and more than holding their own at various points as Barca stood stuck in second gear. It was left to the red hot Javier Saviola to rescue them, and he did with just 17 minutes gone, when Oleguer's mis-hit shot fell to him. The Argentine took one quick touch, and crashed it past Bizzarri to score his seventh goal in four games.

In the minute 65 Rikjaard substituted Saviola and brought on Eidur Gudjohsen. The substitute Gudjohnsen proved decisive with his contribution to Barca's second goal. In the 67 minute, a good cross from Ronaldinho from the right wing was met by Gudjonhsons' head and just when the Camp Nou was about to celebrate another goal, ex-barca player Mingo somehow managed to push the ball onto the cross bar, only for it to fall at the feet of Ludovic Giuly who made no mistake to score the second goal of the night.

The third goal came with Ronaldinho once again the architect, and Gudjohnsen once again contributing. The Brazilian ran towards the goal, helped by a neat one-two with Gudjohnsen. The keeper just about got his hands to it, but Iniesta was at hand to finish with aplomb. 3-0 with ten minutes to go, and Barcelona were in complete control.