Eurosport - Sun, 10 May 21:48:00 2009
Barcelona must wait a little longer to clinch the Liga title after Villarreal struck back to earn a dramatic 3-3 draw with a stoppage-time goal from Joseba Llorente at the Camp Nou.
The Champions League and Copa del Rey finalists were cruising at 3-1 after first-half goals from Seydou Keita, Samuel Eto'o and Daniel Alves.
But a red card for defender Eric Abidal 12 minutes from time opened the door for Villarreal, and Matias Fernandez scored from the penalty spot before Llorente squirmed clear to lash a shot in off the post for his second of the match.
The leaders have 86 points, eight ahead of Real Madrid, who lost 3-0 at Valencia on Saturday, with three games to play.
"We only need one more point with nine left to play for. We are effectively champions already. It would be a miracle if we don't win it now," Eto'o told Radio Marca.
However there was bad news for Barca after the match when it was revealed that attacking midfield star Andres Iniesta, the last-gasp matchwinner against Chelsea in the Champions League semi-final second leg last week, will miss Wednesday's Copa final against Athletic Bilbao and perhaps the European final with Manchester United with a thigh strain.
Sevilla are third with 63 and Valencia fourth on 59 after both won on Saturday.
Atletico are fifth with 58 after Diego Forlan scored a last-minute winner against Espanyol, the Madrid side fighting back from 2-0 down with 10 men to win 3-2 at the Calderon.
Forlan's double took his tally for the season to 27.
Barca coach Pep Guardiola was as good as his word in Catalonia, refusing to rest anyone: the only players missing from the usual line-up were the injured Thierry Henry and Rafael Marquez.
Villarreal were opened up after 12 minutes when Keita was put through and his shot ballooned off a defender's leg and in under the bar.
But the visitors, who have their eyes on a return to Europe's elite competition next year, sliced through the home side after an interception in midfield, with Llorente sliding in for the final touch in the 22nd.
A stunning one-handed save from Victor Valdes kept it all square, and dogged persistence from Iniesta after a quickly taken free-kick set up Eto'o for his 28th goal of the season to put Barca back in front on 36 minutes.
Alves curled in a free-kick from the edge of the area just before the break.
Mexican waves were circling the stadium until Abidal's red card for barging into Nihat Kahveci in the area.
The Frenchman, also sent off in the second leg against Chelsea, will now miss the domestic final as well as the Champions League final against Manchester United.
Fernandez dispatched the ensuing penalty and Llorente's superb finish put a damper on the Barcelona festivities.
Earlier, two goals from Esteban Granero helped drag Getafe away from the relegation places with a 3-0 home win over direct rivals Osasuna, who played most of the match with 10 men.
There was no change at the bottom after Sporting Gijon and Recreativo lost and last-placed Numancia drew with Valladolid.
Liga results:
Getafe 3-0 Osasuna
Malaga 1-0 Racing Santander
Valladolid 0-0 Numancia
Recreativo 1-2 Deportivo
Almeria 3-1 Sporting
Atletico Madrid 3-2 Espanyol
Barcelona 3-3 Villarreal
Comment 10 - 29 of 49
The CL final will be an on the day game, form does not matter that much, it helps, but is not the be all and end all. It will be a tough game for both sides. Barca are a great attacking side, but Man Utd has a very able defensive unit, with the added bonus of being able to turn defense into attack very quickly. It will be an interesting game, but I hope Man Utd win it. Good luck to both teams.
so man u play a much depleted barelona, when will their luck run out! barca's first team would have destroyed man u's. now it looks like we won't get to see the best team in europe
FLASH - FLASH - FLASH
Read this very slowly,
I saw it in the stars : Barca will beat Manu 5 - 2
Good news for ManUTD, Barcelona will have at least five of their best players out of Roma´s final, Alves and Abidal (suspended), Marquez, Henry and Iniesta (injured). Now, May be the best team won´t win the final. Lucky ferguson!!!
this is not about euro 2008 erm
Abidal's favourite colour must be red.
Is he a raging bull attracted by the matador refs?
YEAH,ENGLISH FOOTBALL IS THE BEST!!!THAT IS WHY THEY WON THE EURO 2008!!!
BARCA'S MIDFIELD IS WAY BETTER THAN MAN UTD'S.HOW CAN YOU COMPARE XAVI AND INIESTA WITH CARRICK AND PARK???
if u remember, in the lest few games played between manchester and willarreal, the results of most of it were 0:0. So, nobody can't say that barcelona cant beat a well organised team like Manchester united, because they didnt beat willarreal. it will be tuff game
Chelsea shud of beat Barcelona did you see how man chances they had !!
if they did that to a solid team like united im sure they would crush barca they cant cope with the physical side of the game
I FIND IT PREPOSTEROUS THAT SOME PEOPLE STILL TRY TO DOUBT BARCA
MANCUNIANS...YOU GOT BEATEN BY LIVERPOOL PRETTY BADLY AS WELL IF I RECALL WELL.
MAN U PLAYED AGAINST VILLAREAL 4 TIMES IN THE CL.NEVER MANAGED TO BEAT THEM!
how can you say premier teams are poor, la liga teams apart from barca are much more poorer then the premier league. just look at the second place team real madrid, they got destroyed by liverpool so is it any wonder barcelona can score 6 against them, i'd like to see them do that against stoke. even though barcelona beat chelsea one thing became clear, against a proper tough defence barcelona cannot score, all they do is pass around midfield.. so what? that doesnt get goals, you think john terry and alex was tough wait till you meet vidic and ferdinand. everyone talks about messi but i didnt see him at all in both legs. barcelona may try to slow the game down but man utd showed in 10 seconds they can go to one end of the pitch to the other and score, chelsea couldnt do that ven though barca had no defence and the chances they missed if it came to ronaldo rooney tevez berbatov they would all be goals. barca watch out!
the fact they cant even beat Villarreal. what makes you think they cant beat a well organised team like Manchester united .and in my opinion united will be too strong ! for Barcelona
I disagree MU will beat Barca,the only good player to trouble Barca is Rolnado pace,apart from that I cant see where threat coming from,may be opportunist Roney,I doubt because when mark he disapears. They had it easy agisnt Asenal due to poor defenders and fast football, which will suit Baecelona. Barcelona is only team capable to slow game down because of excellent mildfielders they have.
MU must not be carried away because they beat poor premier. teams,againts Porto they were fortunate to win at Porto.
I disagree MU will beat Barca,the only good player to trouble Barca is Rolnado pace,apart from that I cant see where threat coming from,may be opportunist Roney,I doubt because when mark he disapears. They had it easy agisnt Asenal due to poor defenders and fast football, which will suit Baecelona. Barcelona is only team capable to slow game down because of excellent mildfielders they have.
MU must not be carried away because they beat poor premier teams,againts Porto they were fortunate to win at Porto.
abidal sent off again
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