Barcelona 2 - Malaga 1

BARCELONA, June 1 (Primera Liga) - Goals by Javiar Saviola and Gaiza Mendieta helped Barcelona to a victory over Malaga and in the process kept their UEFA Cup hopes still alive.

With two games left Barca remain in with a chance of a place in Europe after this uninspiring win. Saviola scored after 13 minutes before Julio Cesar Dely Valdes equalised from the spot on 55 minutes.

However, a Mendieta penalty midway through the second period sealed the points for the underachieving Azulgrana.

In front of a half-empty Nou Camp, the game began at a measured pace although Barca began to dictate the play as the half progressed.

Saviola had two chances within the first 15 minutes to give Barca the lead, the first he shot wide from inside the box and then, following a Mendieta flick-on, goalkeeper Pedro Contreras saved as the diminutive striker attempted to round him.

Next it was Mendieta`s turn to shoot from distance and it only went a whisker wide.

However, the goal was coming with Barca enjoying plenty of possession in the final third and Saviola finally delivered at the third time of asking.

A sweeping move down the right wing saw Fabio Rochemback find Mendieta who crossed for an unmarked Saviola who steered a header into the corner.

Barca continued to threaten while Malaga offered little going forward. failing to conjure up any chances of note.

The movement of Saviola in particular was causing plenty of trouble for the Malaga defence while in midfield Mendieta was having one of his best games in a Barca shirt, knocking the ball around and supplying the forwards with ample ammunition.

But straight after the restart Malaga could have drawn level.

Kiki Musampa hit a powerful drive from inside the area which Victor Valdes saved from point blank range before Dely Valdes saw his rebound shot blocked by a combination of a keeper and a defender.

It proved to be a warning which Barca did not heed. On 56 minutes Dely Valdes teased the Barca defence before playing the ball to Dario Silva who was impeded from behind by Mendieta.

Dely Valdes stepped up to send his namesake in the Barca goal the wrong way.

Barca coach Raddy Antic brought on Marc Overmars to try and give the initiative back to Barca but it was fellow Dutchman Patrick Kluivert who helped them to restore the lead.

Taking on Ivan Leko in the box, the Malaga defender was adjudged to have handled the ball and the penalty was awarded which Mendieta, making amends for his foul at the other end, converted with aplomb.

The goal appeared to take the stuffing out of Malaga who found it difficult to respond for a second time.

Coach Joaquin Peiro also surprisingly chose to take off Dario Silva and Musampa, two of their most effective players, with twenty minutes to go.

This result could yet prove to be an important one for Barca who are struggling to avoid the humiliation of not qualifying for European competition.