FC Barcelona 4 Fiorentina 2

FC Barcelona started this game with every intention to attack the Italian side from Florence and by th end their positive attitude had seen them firmly installed as Champions League favourites this season.

Former Barca leader Johan Cruyff slammed the new format for the competition in interviews yesterday and said the tournament was "decaffeinated" but his club - he remains a member - produced an extra strong showing in the Camp Nou to see off Fiorentina.

Barca scored twice in the first ten minutes as Luis Figo took control of the match.

The Portuguese striker - serving a ban in the domestic league at the moment after a recent red card - scored the first goal and Barca never looked like surrendering their superiority. On seven minutes Figo was allowed a clear run at goal without a challenge and he drove the ball across the gaol and into the net past Francesco Toldo.

Figo also hit the cross three minutes later which was cleared to Luis Enrique. He brought the ball down and stepped forward to slam the ball into the goal for a comfortable Barca lead.

After such an excellent start Barca were bound to drift a little on their lead and Fiorentina were able to come back into the match. This only really improved their defending as Barca's produced some wayward shooting to end the first half.

The Italians were fortunate to see a Batistuta free kick in the 51st minute deflected into the net by Amoroso's back heel but Rivaldo then took centre stage to add two goals to the Barca total.

The Brazilian's first came from a penalty in the 68th minute after Tomas Repka and Padalino had combined to fell Figo in the area. Luis Enrique fed Rivaldo with a through pass two minutes later and he guided the ball around Toldo and into the empty net.

Enrico Chiesa showed some fight by coming on as a substitute for a close range finish but it is now two wins out of two for Barca and they host Arsenal next Wednesday while Fiorentina travel to Stockholm to meet AIK.