La Liga champions Barcelona are in control at half time against Rayo Vallecano at Camp Nou with a 2-0 lead.
Barca got off to the best possible start, as Adriano cut inside from the left before firing a low shot into the opposite corner to put his side 1-0 up.
On 10 minutes Andres Iniesta's quick-thinking almost got a second for his team, but his half-volley from near the half-way line went just wide of Ruben Martinez's goal.
Then just before the half-hour mark Iago Falque had a great chance to equalise. Victor Valdes pushed away an effort from Alberto Bueno, and he just did enough to close his legs to keep out the rebound.
With 10 minutes of the half remaining, Lionel Messi scored a trademark goal. He was threaded in by a fine pass from Cesc Fabregas, before clipping over the advancing Ruben for 2-0.
Matt Domm
