Lionel Messi's free kick has given Barcelona a 1-0 half-time lead over Deportivo La Coruna after a first half which they almost completely dominated in the La Liga clash at Camp Nou.
A much-changed Barca failed to win for the first time in seven games with a 1-1 draw at Bayer Leverkusen in midweek, but with Luis Enrique reverting to his first-choice side, the hosts unsurprisingly dominated the early stages.
Even without the injured Neymar, Barca were incisive in the Deportivo half, and top scorer Luis Suarez should have opened the scoring after just five minutes when he somehow sliced wide from close range after Sandro Ramirez nodded Lionel Messi's deep ball into the box across goal.
The hosts had found their groove, and more superb vision from Messi nearly brought the breakthrough once more as the Argentine spotted Andres Iniesta's run with a fine through-ball, but the captain just could not steer his stretched effort past German Lux.
Lux saved well from Messi's free kick moments later as the early one-way traffic continued, but Depor had their first opportunity of the match when Juanfran swung in a teasing cross and Jonathan Rodriguez beat Gerard Pique to the ball, but the striker was denied by Claudio Bravo.
Sandro could not convert when Ivan Rakitic's cross found its way through to the back post as Barca's frustration continued, and seven minutes later Suarez missed another clear opportunity when he got his header all wrong from a corner after Lux had denied Messi.
Six minutes before the break the home side's dominance was finally rewarded when they were given another free kick in a dangerous position, and this time Messi whipped a dipping effort past Lux from 20 yards.
Suarez hit a half-volley wide from Rakitic's cross as the leaders pressed for a second before the break, but they had to settle for a slim advantage as the half-time whistle sounded.
Tom Nightingale
