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Barcelona's celebrations put on hold

SPANISH PRIMERA LIGA: BARCELONA MUST wait a little longer to clinch the Primera Liga title after Villarreal struck back to earn…

Mon May 11 2009 - 01:00

SPANISH PRIMERA LIGA:BARCELONA MUST wait a little longer to clinch the Primera Liga title after Villarreal struck back to earn a dramatic 3-3 draw with a stoppage-time goal from Joseba Llorente at Camp Nou last night.

The Champions League and King's Cup 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 Fernandex scored from the penalty spot before Llorente swivelled to a lash a shot high into the net for his second of the match.

The leaders have 86 points, eight ahead of chasing Real Madrid, who lost 3-0 at Valencia on Saturday, with three games to play. Sevilla are third with 63 and Valencia fourth with 59 after both won on Saturday. Villarreal are fifth on 56.

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A packed Camp Nou chanted Andres Iniesta's name as the game got underway in honour of the midfielder's stunning strike against Chelsea on Wednesday which took Barcelona to the Champions League final.

Coach Pep Guardiola was as good as his word, refusing to rest anyone, despite having a King's Cup final against Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday. 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 the Champions League 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 Barcelona back in front on 36 minutes.

Alves then 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.

Earlier, two goals from Esteban Granero helped drag Getafe away from the relegation places with a 3-0 home win over direct rivals Osasuna. There was no change in the bottom three after Sporting Gijon and Recreativo Huelva lost and bottom club Numancia drew.