Barca signing the full

* Andy Cole ahead of Villarreal just starting the second part

* The expulsion of Pique and the uncertainty gave impetus to the local denouement

Villarreal discussed by you to your hierarchy of Barcelona and finished as the latest victim of a group that has settled in the first direct confrontation with their most threatening rivals: Real Madrid, Valencia, Sevilla and, months before, Atletico de Madrid.

In three days of the equator garter belts, the Barcelona makes sure the title of winter champions, perhaps the least important honorary award for all of those who could boast: enviable dynamics of the game, great defensive discipline despite their risky approach and the awareness that when someone is missing, another always able to maintain the level of the collective.

None of his opponents objected so much resistance to the affluent as Barcelona Villarreal. It is the dignity that resplandecerá in the wound of his defeat. He made a tactical approach flawless until the tyranny of the goal he threw down. Set aside to Eto'o and Messi without kicking, placed obstacles in the pathway of Alves and Abidal, truncated progression of the ball season with the high performance of the couple Eguren, Senna and all this without abandoning the mark, something that, in addition , Succeeded before your enemy.

For about 45 minutes intense, Diego Lopez extended his reputation for great goalkeeper to stop two balls to Henry and murderers Busquets, while Valdes, on the other goal, thanked the poor performance of two auctions of Rossi.

Barcelona took the fourth time in imposing their domination of the ball better and much more time to unravel the fabric defensive provisions Manuel Pellegrini, who both held the first two minutes of the match after the break, in a move that the book was born a robbery at the line and sent a perfect long Rossi to Cann.

It was the second time that Chelsea broke the defensive line ahead of the season and the first in which the attacker, this time the Zaragozano that left midfielder Nihat on the bench, and rightly so overcome with an excellent and difficult to tap the departure of Valdes .

The Barcelona recalled another virtue that often does not need to show: that of keeping the focus on a difficult situation. Quickened something the game, maybe he saw a glimmer of anxiety in Messi and Eto'o, but found the elixir of success once again in a move seemingly uninteresting in which Keita, who had postponed in reserve Yaya Toure - Was played the type to head for goal before the departure of Diego Lopez. Previously, the mali had found its central position between the two yellows, and Gonzalo Godín to meet with the center of Alves.

Unlike the season, the El Madrigal it accused the setback. Caved in and ball field again. At the same time, reflected the need for the new air refresher players. Meanwhile, Xavi-master-leaked intermittently in the area and took another center that looks harmless resolved Henry, the French at last, with just a touch lethal.

The party, which until then had not offered more football delights that are entangled in anger, bountiful first actions punishable with cards. The arbitrator will be heated as a microwave and expelled Pique with two yellow cards in the space of four minutes, the second without reason.

Pellegrini had just been introduced to Nihat and Guille Franco to strengthen the attack. Shortly after the final expulsion was sending the message with the replacement of Senna by Ibagaza while Guardiola, who had already given entry to Toure hurt by Busquets, appealed to the central Martin Caceres (for Henry) and then by the Belarussian Hleb Eto'o.

Then, in 15 minutes late (including the five added by the referee) when the Villarreal grazed the tie. And what happened in the first part: that the auction of Guille and Nihat not found the right direction when it seemed inevitable goals. Barcelona, playing with fire, was defended with everything, but even so resigned to take the ball near the area of Diego Lopez. One way, better than any other, to defend to the end.

Result Primera Division: 21 December 2008

Deportivo La Coruna 4 - 1 Recreativo Huelva

Mallorca 0 - 0 Sevilla

Numancia 4 - 3 Valladolid

Osasuna 5 - 2 Getafe

Racing Santander 1 - 1 Malaga

Sporting Gijon 1 - 0 Almeria

Villarreal 1 - 2 Barcelona

Real Betis 0 - 1 Athletic Bilbao