As expected, FC Barcelona picked up the 3 points tonight but struggled to overcome bottom placed Xerez. Pep Guardiola left Piqué, Milito, Busquets, Messi and Pedro out of the starting line-up with an eye on Wednesday’s Champions League semi final with Inter Milan. But early goals from Jeffren and Henry and a early second half goal from Zlatan Ibahimovic secured three very important points in the race for the 2009-2010 Spanish League with Real Madrid.

Henry and Ibarhimovic celebrating the 2nd goal of the night

Jeffren 14′ (1-0)

Henry 24′ (2-0)

Bermejo 25′ (2-1)

Ibrahimovic 56′ (3-1)

FC Barcelona: Valdés; Puyol, Márquez (Piqué, min.52), Chygrynskiy, Maxwell; Xavi, Keita, Touré; Jeffren (Messi, min.52), Ibrahimovic, Henry (Bojan, min.74)

Xerez: Renán; Francis, Gioda, Aythami (Carlos Calvo, min.46), Casado; Sidi Keita (Moreno, min.63), Sánchez; Armenteros (Alustiza, min.79), David Prieto, Orellana, Mario Bermejo

Goals: 1-0, min.14: Jeffrén. 2-0, min.24: Henry. 2-1, min.25: Mario Bermejo. 3-1, min.56: Ibrahimovic

Venue: Camp Nou Stadium (Attendance: 82.456)