Fresh off their Champions League heroics versus Chelsea midweek, Barcelona played Villareal
knowing that a win would secure the Primera Liga title on Sunday. But the champagne had to put on ice when Joseba Llorente scored an equalizer 2 minutes into stoppage time, giving Barca a taste of theirown medicine. It looked like Barcelona would coast to victory when they went in at half time with a 3-1 lead thanks to goals by Keita, Eto'o and Alves, before Matias Fernandez scored from the penalty spot on 78 minutes and Llorente scored his second of the game. And to compound frustration, for the second time in 5 days, Eric Adibal saw red, as he gave away the 78th minute penalty. Not a good personal week for the French left back! Barcelona will have an opportunity to seal the title next weekend at Real Mallorca.
This is of course if Real Madrid win their game on Saturday versus Villareal. But lets be honest, that doesn't look likely. If Real Madrid ail to win, the title belongs again to Barca without kicking a ball. And what has happened to Real Madrid?? After a 6-2 thrashing at home to Barcelona the previous week, they were battered 3-0 away to Valencia Saturday. If Madrid had managed to win both games, they would now be leading the Primera Liga. But instead a team worth over 200 million concedes 9 goals and pretty much hands the title to their rivals. As one of the richest teams in the world, they will be extremely frustrated that the could not challenge in the final weeks of the season, but it has been such a frustrting season for madrid, with many injuries and disapointments. Their ae sure to be huge changes their durg the summer, and as usual probably another coaching change, lets be honest it wouldn't be Real Madrid without a coach being fired!
As a side note, Barcelona will be looking for their first piece of silverware this season, when they play Athletic Bilbao in the Copa Del Rey final this Wednesday. It could be the first of three trophies for the Catalan giants.
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On reading all the online reviews it seems that one thing is evident - Manchester United lost the game rather than Barcelona winning it. Everybody is talking about how Man United underperformed rather than how Barcelona dominated. And that is how it went! On the big stage, three players shone - Xavi, Pique and man of the match Iniesta. Notice there are no Man United players included. After only 8 minutes of the game Man United looked extrodinary, a team that could not lose. At that stage they had 5 shots on the Barcelona goal. But one minute later, and one Barcelona attack later they were down 1-0. It seemed that the wind was taken right out of the Man utd sales and the ship never recovered. Barcelona took the game by the scruff of the neck and shut United down all over the park. Eto was ordinary, Henry was ordinary and apart from his goal Messi was pretty ordinary! Never-the-less, it was Barcelona turned up, worked hard and went home with the Champions League title!
