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La Liga Report: Wasteful Barcelona Painted Yellow
Villarreal 2-0 Barcelona
The title race was thrown wide open for the umpteenth time as FC Barcelona wasted chance after chance in the first half and were made to pay in the second as goals from Robert Pirès and Marcos saw them go down in El Madrigal
First Half
Frank Rijkaard opted to name an attacking line-up in the hope that the creative midfield would produce some magic, but instead the strength and power of the Yellow Submarine proved to be too much for the Blaugrana.
While Andrés Iniesta, Deco and Xavi all looked confident in possession they lacked the incisiveness that has been a trademark of the team when Barça are on song.
After a first half that saw them denied on three clear occasions by Sebastián Viera in the Villarreal goal, the visitors were reduced to long shots in the second period as their hosts showed them the way.
After just eight minutes it was Forlán that registered the first shot at goal as Marcos' cut was dummied by Pirès and the Uruguayan striker fired just wide of the far post from 20 yards out.
Despite a bright opening, Barça again almost went behind after quarter of an hour when Josico connected with a corner to head just over Víctor Valdés' crossbar.
Sebastián Viera has been in inspired form in goal for the hosts as he has repelled everything that the Blaugrana have thrown his way. His first save came when Lionel Messi ran onto a loose ball and took aim only for the keeper to save with his legs.
Fabricio Fuentes then nodded a Ronaldinho header away from danger before Viera watched a low drive from Eto'o fly just past the frame of the goal. The Villarreal custodian was called upon again on the half-hour mark when he raced from his goal to deny Eto'o, who had controlled a long ball before forging forward.
Forlán then hammered a shot over at the other end before Eto'o saw a header drift wide after he had been picked out by Messi and int he closing moments Xavi and Ronaldinho combined, only for the Brazilian to be denied by Viera once again.
Second Half
There was no let up in the pace after the break and it was Pirès that had the opening shot at goal after six minutes, but the Frenchman waited too long before allowing Puyol to close him down and take any sting out of his shot.
Ronaldinho tried something new as he ran directly at the ball for a free-kick, but Viera was equal to the effort as he plucked it out the air with ease. Barça may have a reputation for slick, attacking football, but the opening goal of the game saw Villarreal produce a move that was both those things and then some.
Cani's first time pass split the Barça defence and Pirès raced through, having been kept clearly onside by Gianluca Zambrotta, before neatly clipping the ball across Valdés and into the far corner of the net with 57 minutes on the clock.
There was still plenty of time for Rijkaard's team to bounce back, but the longer the game went on the stronger the feeling that they did not appear capable on the night became. To prove a point, Cani could have doubled the hosts' advantage with a long-range drive that saw Valdés stretch full-length to stop, before Marcos Senna lifted a free-kick straight into the keeper's arms.
Eidur Gudjohnsen was introduced in place of Sylvinho, leaving Iniesta to fill a left-wing back role and it was the Icelandic forward that warmed Viera's gloves in the 75th minute as he ran onto a Messi pass. After his wonder goal in the week, the Argentinian failed to ignite against Villarreal and was as ineffective here as he was brilliant in midweek.
Ronaldinho then fired another free-kick straight at Viera, before Barça's luck completely ran out as their opponents netted the second goal of the encounter.
Substitute José Mari held off the challenge of Puyol as he powered along the touchline and into the area before laying the ball back, which Cani stepped over, and Marcos curled into the bottom corner of the net with the outside of his boot.
There was no way back for the reigning league champions and although Ronaldinho fired over and then clipped the crossbar in the closing moments they were defeated.
LB
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