Barcelona strolled to an easy 4-0 victory over Racing Santander on
a night of firsts at the Nou Camp on Saturday.
Despite missing several key players through injury and losing
Zlatan Ibrahimovic just before the match, Pep Guardiola's side
brushed aside a disappointing Racing outfit with ease, on the back
of a fine first-half performance.
Andres Iniesta gave the Catalans the lead with his first goal
of the season following poor defending by Racing after just seven
minutes.
Thierry Henry, handed a rare start by Guardiola after being
frozen out in recent weeks, scored the second goal from a free-kick
with his first of 2010, and Rafael Marquez added a brilliant third
with his first of the campaign from another set-piece 11 minutes
before half-time.
Youngster Thiago Alcantara then added a fourth with his first
career goal in the closing stages.
All of that leaves Barca very much in first as well, with the
onus on Real Madrid to close the gap back to two points when they
host Villarreal on Sunday
Elsewhere, two goals in the first seven minutes were enough
to give Deportivo La Coruna a 2-1 win against Xerez.
It was a first win in four matches for Deportivo in the
Primera Division, but the Galicians endured some nervy moments as
bottom side Xerez threw men forward in search of a late equaliser.
Andres Guardado gave Deportivo the lead from the penalty spot
with just three minutes gone after Vicente Moreno had held back
Diego Colotto.
And the locals looked to be well on their way to an easy
victory when Riki added a second four minutes later.
But Xerez pulled a goal back seven minutes before the break
through Mario Bermejo and Deportivo were forced to hold on in the
end as the Andalusians gave everything in an attempt to secure a
vital point which never materialised.
