The Catalans have 26 points from their 10 games, and a nine-point advantage, although all their nearest rivals have a game in hand and play on Sunday.

In the end, Barcelona ran out comfortable winners despite the one-goal victory but they were given some early nervous moments.

"We had plenty more opportunities to score but the important thing was to score one more goal than the opposition. But I said beforehand that this game would be far from easy," commented Barca coach Frank Rijkaard.

The visitors from the Atlantic coast rocked the Nou Camp with a goal after just seven minutes.

Deportivo's Pedro Munitis broke down the right flank and found Diego Tristan in the centre. The Spanish international couldn't finish off the move but the ball fell for Deportivo club captain Fran Gonzalez who made no mistake.

Rijkaard could be seen gesticulating frantically on the sidelines for his team to take the game to Depor in a bid to get back on level terms and his team followed his instructions to the letter.

Midway through the first half, Belletti found space on the right wing to get the ball across the area to Xavi Hernandez and the Spanish international player had the time to pick his spot and side-foot the ball home.

Deportivo's defensive deficiencies were again exposed 10 minutes from the break.

Rafa Marquez's free kick from the edge of the area hit a wall of Deportivo defenders and spun off to an unmarked Ludovic Giuly. The Frenchman then darted forward before finding Samuel Eto'o free in front of goal for his ninth strike of the season.

Only poor finishing foiled Barcelona from several more goals in the second half.

Giuly himself nearly got on the scoresheet twice in the second half, regularly tormenting the Deportivo defence as he had his best game in a Barcelona shirt since signing for the Catalan club in the summer from Monaco.

However Barcelona clearly had the measure of Deportivo despite coming down a gear.

"I don't know if Barca are so much better than the rest (of the teams in the Spanish first division). But if they are, then a 2-1 outcome makes us look good," reflected Deportivo's under-fire coach Javier Irureta.

"Football is all about having possession of the ball and Barcelona are very difficult to deprive of it. We had a good first 30 minutes but they made the most of our two defensive lapses of concentration," lamented Irureta.

Last season's Champions League semi-finalist languish in the middle of the table after a mediocre start to this campaign which has seen them struggle to replicate the heights of recent years.

One negative note for Barcelona was that their Brazilian international wing back Belletti was stretchered off the field two minutes from the whistle after suffering ligament damage to his right ankle.

Barcelona medical staff did not give immediate details about how serious Belletti's injury is, but he is likely to be out of action for at least a week.

Second-placed Sevilla, who currently have 17 points, play host to Real Mallorca on Sunday while Real Madrid are third, ahead on goal difference of Real Zaragoza and Levante who all have 16 points, and the 29-times Spanish champions face a trip to Malaga on Sunday.