Barça were beaten at Villareal despite playing good football and creating plenty of scoring chances. Second half goals from Pires and Marcos gave the home side a 2-0 win that does little justice to the game.
Rikjaard’s team started the game well and were conscious of the need to secure the three points following the victories of their nearest rivals. However, the first chances fell to Villarreal, firstly an effort from Forlan that went narrowly wide and then a header from Josico following a corner.
Plenty of chances
The first real opportunity for Barça came in the 17th minute. Eto’o headed down a long pass from Xavi into the path of Messi whose low shot was blocked by Viera’s legs. It was the first of many scoring chances. Soon after, a goalbound header from Ronaldinho was cleared off the line by the Villarreal defence.
Barça Dominance
Barça’s play was quick and intelligent. After a half an hour Samuel Eto’o finished off a good move with a shot from outside the area that just missed the target. Minutes later the Cameroon international had an even better chance but the goalkeeper read his intentions. Eto’o had yet another chance with a header from Messi’s cross but he failed to steer his effort at goal.
Solid in defence
Apart from the attacking play, the defence led by Thuram and Puyol was not giving away much to the Villarreal, who were suffocated by the Barça pressure in all areas of the field. In the 42 minute, Xavi and Ronaldinho created a wonderful chance inside the Villarreal area but the Brazilian could not get the better of Viera in the one-on-one. The first half finished without goals and Barça went to the dressing room without anything to show for the dominant first half display.
Villarreal goal
After being thoroughly outplayed by Barça in the first half, Villarreal came out to surprise following the restart. Just as in the first half Barcelona continued to attack from the off and Ronaldinho came close to opening the scoring in the 52nd minute with a free-kick. However it was Villarreal who were to make the vital breakthrough. Cani’s incisive pass put Frenchman Robert Pires in the clear, and he made no mistake to beat Valdes and put the home side into the lead. It was a goal they scarcely deserved and was hard justice on Barça.
Dominance without reward
The blow left Barça a little shocked but they continued in the same vein as previously in the efforts to turn the game around. Rikjaard brought on Gudjohnsen for Sylvinho (min. 73) Immediately the Icelandic player made Viera work. Unfortunately, the ambition showed throughout by Barça went unrewarded and it was Villareal who added a second with a shot from Marcos into the bottom corner of the net. Right at the end of the game, Ronaldinho hit the crossbar with a cheeky free-kick, but it was not going to be Barça’s night.
Despite the defeat Barça are still top of the table with a one point advantage over Sevilla.
[Barça vs Villareal] Ambition goes unrewarded (0-2)
Linear Mode
