Barcelona were out of sorts against bottom of the table Xerez but still managed to come away with a 2-0 win.
Champions off colour as Henry and Ibrahimovic are on target in win
Barcelona were out of sorts against bottom of the table Xerez but still managed to come away with a 2-0 win.
Barca manager Josep Guardiola decided to leave Andres Iniesta, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and newly crowned Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi on the bench after their weekend exploits in the 1-0 El Clasico success over Real Madrid.
However despite having just one win to their name all season Xerez frustrated the champions without really threatening Victor Valdes in the visitor's goal during the opening 45 minutes.
With Guardiola's choice words perhaps ringing in their ears Barca rapidly came out of blocks in the second-half, with Thierry Henry heading them into the lead within a minute of the restart after good work from Maxwell down the left.
Despite the cushion of the opening goal Barca continued to look lethargic. Even the introduction of Messi, Ibrahimovic and Iniesta failed to wake the Catalans from their slumber, although Messi did rattle a post moments before Iniesta sliced wide from five yards in stoppage time.
Barca finally got their second goal when Messi slipped in Ibrahimovic who delightfully chipped the goalkeeper in the dying seconds.
The victory took them five points clear of Real at the top although Los Blancos have played a game less.
