FC Barcelona 5 Sparta Prague 0

FC Barcelona put recent poor performances behind them to hammer Sparta Prague 5-0 at the Camp Nou.

The Czech side had started well but their efforts were undermined by a red card in the 37th minute for defender Martin Hasek and the Spanish champions cashed in their advantage in full.

Hasek received a second yellow card for a clumsy foul and Barca were quick to get into the lead. Early shots from the Catalan side had all been parried by Thomas Postulka in the Sparta goal but the home team cheered the Camp Nou crowd with two goals in forty five seconds in the last minute of the half. Patrick Kluivert turned and shot from the penalty spot after a low cross from Figo and Philip Cocu set up a similar shooting chance for Luis Enrique to fire home.

Guardiola hit a soaring free kick into the net in the 64th minute and Kluivert finished from close range for the fourth.

Postulka was left exposed for the final time when Michael Reiziger sent in a fierce shot that the 'keeper could only parry to Luis Enrique to touch the ball into the empty net.