Barcelona are on course for a third successive league title after a 1-0 win at Villarreal on Saturday moved the double champions eight points clear of Real Madrid in the title race with just eight games left.
Spanish World Cup winner Gerard Pique scored a 67th-minute winner as Barcelona capitalized on Real’s surprise 1-0 home loss to unfashionable Sporting Gijon on Saturday, which ended coach Jose Mourinho’s run of 150 home league games without defeat.
Barcelona needed a heroic late save from goalkeeper Victor Valdes to clinch all three points and take a huge step toward the title.
Photo: Reuters
Madrid host Barcelona on April 17 at the Bernabeu, but Mourinho openly admitted that the title race was virtually over after his side surrendered their 100 percent home record with a 1-0 loss against Gijon.
Miguel de las Cuevas stunned Real with a 78th-minute winner as Mourinho lost his first home league match in more than nine years, his last league home loss having come in 2002 when his FC Porto side lost at home to Beira Mar.
The return of Argentine international forward Gonzalo Higuain, out of action with a back problem since late November, was the only positive on a terrible night for Real, who must pick themselves up for tomorrow’s Champions League quarter-final first leg against Spurs.
The Gijon loss was a real boon for Barcelona.
Giuseppe Rossi had two chances early on, but he was foiled by the heroics of Barca goalkeeper Valdes.
With several new faces starting, Barcelona were a shadow of themselves and did not create a major chance until just before halftime.
Midfielder Thiago Alcantara, 19, fed David Villa who was about to shoot only for Jose Catala to save the day with a last-ditch challenge.
Barcelona picked up their game in the second half and Villa showed great control to turn his man, but his snapshot fizzed wide of the post.
Lionel Messi came on for Seydou Keita on 52 minutes to lift Barca, but the inspiration came from Pique, who controlled a cross on his chest before volleying home the winner.
Valdes pulled off a wonder save in stoppage-time to stop Santi Cazorla’s thumping drive.
Villarreal’s second home defeat of the season sees them fall to fourth, three points behind Valencia, who beat Getafe 4-2 on Saturday.
Roberto Soldado bagged a second-half quadruple to down his old club Getafe as Valencia came from a goal down to win 4-2 and move above Villarreal into third.
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