Barcelona Brush Recreativo Aside

Barcelona continue their relentless march towards the Liga title after an easy victory over struggling Recreativo Huelva.

A goal within 42 seconds from Andres Iniesta set the ball rolling for what looked initially like a goal feast, but in the end a relative lack of end product made for a more modest margin of victory.

Indeed, only an own goal was to add to the tally, with Barcelona's Lionel Messi even spurning a penalty opportunity late on.

The game started, though, with that early goal. With the very first attack of the game, Thierry Henry weaved his way down the left before playing the ball across goalmouth, where neither Bojan nor Nef could get to it, allowing Andres Iniesta to fire into an empty net.

Recreativo had a fine chance to equalise soon afterwards as Barber's cross was poorly cleared by Rafael Marquez, giving Nayar a chance to shoot unmarked from close range. However, Victor Valdes' great save kept the score at 1-0.

After that Barcelona were the superior side as they pressed forward, but the likes of Bojan Krkic, despite looking impressive when receiving the ball, were finding cutting-edge hard to come by.

Indeed, when Lamas of Recre threatened with a header that brushed just wide of the post at the other end, it was a reminder that Barcelona needed a second goal to truly kill off the tie.

Thierry Henry and Andres Iniesta in particular were doing their best to make it happen, but a muted evening for Bojan and to a lesser extent Lionel Messi saw this task rendered difficult.

On the half hour mark, though, it should have been 2-0 as Daniel Alves' predatory cross only just missed Eidur Gudjohnsen at the far post.

Corners were a source of disappointment, Barcelona winning several but only one - a Rafael Marquez header that flashed over - seemed set to do any damage.

Two minutes before the break, though, came the best chance for Barcelona since the goal. Henry played it through for Gudjohnsen, whose run was excellent, and amidst the ensuing melee in the box Bojan's shot was cleared off the line amd Messi's was blocked!

Heading into the second period the Blaugrana were still holding the vast bulk of possession, but Recre's five-man midfield was protecting matters well enough.

On the hour mark Xavi and Seydou Keita came on, moments after Victor Valdes had prevented - albeit perhaps with too physical an aspect - a Recre chance, but the second goal was finally to come.

First, though, came one that was ruled out. Iniesta's superb run down the left and cut inside to the box resulted in Theirry Henry easily converting his low cross, but the Frenchman was judged offside.

But Iniesta's work was to reap benefits. Another cross in low from the left saw Nasief Morris slide and attempt to clear the ball, but succeed only in burying it in the back of the net.

The finals tages, though, provided little succour for Barcelona. They seemed likely to get a third as Casado had a penalty given against him for blocking a Dani Alves cross with his arm - a dubious decision - but Lionel Messi rolled the ball low for Asier Riesgo to save.

Then Recre had the ball in the net at the other end, although the two substitutes - Akale and Ersen Martin - correctly had the latter's strike ruled out for offside from the former's cross.

So, 2-0 it ended, and Barcelona did enough to leave the match casualty-free and with another three points en route to the title