Villarreal 2 - Barcelona 0

Villarreal: Reina; Belletti, Ballesteros, Unai, Arruabarrena; Quique Medina (Farinós 48'), Josico; Guayre (Calleja 89'), Víctor, Jorge López; De Nigris. 4-2-3-1.
Barcelona: Bonano; Reiziger, Puyol, Frank De Boer (Andersson 25'), Sorín; Overmars (Rochemback 76'), Xavi, Mendieta, Riquelme (Gerard 61'); Saviola, Kluivert. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Villarreal: Unai, Víctor for Quique Alvarez, Calleja / Barcelona: Sorín for Gabri.

Goals:
1-0. 57. Jorge López (penalty). After De Nigris brought down by Sorín.
2-0. 93. Calleja (penalty). After Rochemback fouled Belletti in area.

Barcelona were beaten 2-0 in the Madrigal stadium by Villarreal, their first defeat since Radomir Antic took over twelve games ago. Despite their impending Champions League game with Juventus midweek, Antic put out his best available side, with Sorín returning after an injury. However he lost Frank De Boer to an injury early in the first half, Andersson coming on for his first league appearance in his place. Benito Floro left Palermo and Farinós on the bench, but brought back Víctor to his starting line up alongside recent signing De Nigris.

It was a lively game, with both keepers making important saves to keep the score decent throughout the match. Ex Barcelona keeper Reina in particular made two vital stops for the home side from Riquelme and Saviola before the break, although otherwise Villarreal were on top, with several efforts going wide and Xavi clearing off the line from De Nigris just before the interval. The Mexican striker was in the action much of the time, and forced a penalty in the second half when Sorín brought him down in the area. Jorge López stepped up to score, and the home side could have extended their lead when De Nigris hit the woodwork soon afterwards.

For a brief while Barça came back, with Ballesteros deflecting a Mendieta shot just wide and Reina saving from Overmars. But then Sorín was sent off for a second bookable offence, and Bonano had to be at his best to save from Víctor as the home side took advantage of the extra man. Jorge López hit the foot of the post as the game went in to injury time, and Mendieta could have levelled it when his free kick from the edge of the area was headed away for a corner by Belletti. But moments later the Brazilian defender was brought down by his fellow countryman Rochemback in the other area, and Calleja scored Villarreal's second penalty of the night to wrap things up. They move to within a point of their opponents, who find themselves once more slipping away from the European spots. Wednesday night's game is even more important now.