Villarreal comeback delays Barça coronation

Villarreal comeback delays Barça coronation

UEFA Champions League finalists FC Barcelona failed to wrap up the Liga title with three games remaining as Villarreal CF scored twice in the final 12 minutes after Eric Abidal's dismissal to earn a 3-3 draw at Camp Nou.
Three-year waitThe celebrations had effectively begun for the Blaugrana faithful after last weekend's 6-2 win against Real Madrid CF, and a 3-0 defeat for their nearest rivals at Valencia CF on Saturday handed them the chance to wrap up their first championship since 2006 – a year in which they also won the UEFA Champions League against English opposition.
Cup finalsThe opportunity to repeat that European feat will arrive against Manchester United FC in Rome on 27 May and the Catalan club can also claim silverware in the Copa del Rey final against Athletic Club Bilbao on Wednesday. They did not appear distracted against Villarreal, though, scoring three times in the opening 45 minutes.
Abidal despairSeydou Keita's deflected shot gave them an eleventh-minute lead and although Joseba Llorente then levelled, the hosts continued their flamboyant forays forward and added further strikes courtesy of Samuel Eto'o and a Daniel Alves free-kick. Abidal was sent off for a professional foul for the second time in five days, following his dismissal at Chelsea FC in the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg, and Mati Fernández converted the resultant penalty before Llorente drilled a dramatic equaliser in off the post in added time.
Depor delightElsewhere on Sunday, RC Deportivo La Coruña and Málaga CF boosted their hopes of European football next term with a 2-1 success at struggling RC Recreativo de Huelva and a 1-0 win over Real Racing Club respectively. Getafe CF registered a 3-0 home triumph versus 17th-placed CA Osasuna, UD Almería downed relegation-haunted Real Sporting de Gijón 3-1 and Real Valladolid CF and bottom side CD Numancia failed to produce a goal. The late game sees Club Atlético de Madrid host RCD Espanyol.
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